Author name: Pii Digital

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

What are Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)?  Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that contain enzymes called carbapenemases (e.g. NDM, VIM, IMP, OXA-48, KPC and GES). These enzymes break down the antibiotics and prevent them from killing the bacteria. Examples of carbapenem antibiotics are ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem and doripenem and these are sometimes referred to as a last line […]

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Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria

What is Carbapenem–resistant bacteria? Carbapenem–resistant bacteria are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. These Gram-negative bacteria are usually from the genera known as Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia, but other genera also become resistant to carbapenems. Bacteria are highly adaptive organisms. Carbapenem antibiotics are broad-spectrum beta-lactam-type antibiotics that are especially effective against Gram-negative bacteria. Carbapenem antibiotics were introduced in the early

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Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

What are Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)?  Carbapenem–resistant Enterobacteriaceae are bacteria that are resistant to the carbapenem group of antibiotics (i.e. ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem and doripenem). These Gram-negative bacteria are usually from the genera called Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia, Shigella, Proteus and Serratia. Other bacteria can also become resistant to carbapenems, for example, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. Bacteria are highly adaptive organisms.

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Candida Auris

What is Candida auris?  Candida auris is a fungal (yeast-like) pathogen within the Candida genus, which has caused healthcare-associated outbreaks of serious infections on several continents. This pathogen can live on the skin, inside the human body (e.g. in the gut) or in the environment. C. auris causes serious infections such as bloodstream infections, meningitis, bone infections, burns/wound infections and urinary

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Diphtheria

What is Diphtheria?  Diphtheria is a contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. It is caused by infection with a toxin-producing strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae or more rarely Corynebacterium ulcerans or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. It occurs in two forms- respiratory diphtheria and cutaneous diphtheria. Diphtheria in Publications Bulletin August 2008

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Dengue Fever

What is Dengue fever? Dengue fever is a zoonotic and vector borne disease that is transmitted when a mosquito bites a human or animal with dengue fever in the blood. Also known as “breakbone fever” or “dandy fever”, the disease is not communicable to other humans and is only transmitted by certain types of mosquitoes.

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Brucellosis

What is Brucellosis? Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella. The bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans by ingestion through infected food products, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. The disease is an old one that has been known by various names, including Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric

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Botulism

What is Botulism? Botulism is a disease of humans and animals characterised by muscle paralysis, and is potentially fatal. It is caused by extremely potent neurotoxins produced by the environmental spore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum and rarely, by botulinum toxin-producing strains of some other Clostridium species. There are five different types of botulism characterised by the

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Blastomycosis

What is Blastomycosis ?  Blastomycosis is a disease caused by the fungus Blastomyces. Blastomyces is a thermally-dimorphic fungus meaning it grows as a thread-like mould in the environment and as a yeast (a single-celled fungus) when it causes human infections. The fungus is found in the environment such as moist soil and decomposing organic matter such as wood and

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