Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Children,United States, 1999–2012

The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections is increasing in the United States. However, few studies have addressed their epidemiology in children. To phenotypically identify CRE isolates cultured from patients 1–17 years of age, we used antimicrobial susceptibilities of Enterobacteriaceae reported to 300 laboratories participating in The Surveillance Network–USA database during January 1999–July 2012. Of 316,253 isolates analyzed, 266 (0.08%) were identified as CRE. CRE infection rate increases were highest for Enterobacter species, blood culture isolates, and isolates from intensive care units, increasing from 0.0% in 1999–2000 to 5.2%, 4.5%, and 3.2%, respectively, in 2011–2012. CRE occurrence in children is increasing but remains low and is less common than that for extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae. The molecular characterization of CRE isolates from children and clinical epidemiology of infection are essential for development of effective prevention strategies.