A new study from Imperial College, London, shows carbapenem resistance is an emerging problem for the NHS.

New research from Rachel Freeman and her team at the National Centre for Infection Prevention and Management at Imperial College, London, suggests that carbapenem resistance is an emerging problem in the UK inpatient healthcare setting.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Therapy, looked at data on inpatients infected or colonised with Gram-negative organisms between March 2009 and February 2012. The data was analysed to identify factors associated with carbapenem resistant organisms. 

The team's analysis suggests that the yearly incidence of carpabenem resistance is increasing, with patients between 16 and 24 (the lowest age bracket included in the study) at greatest risk of infection. 

Dr Freeman concludes that carpabenem reistance is an emerging problem and proposes regular analysis of routinely collected patient data in order to inform efforts to prevent the spread of disease.

A full copy of the paper is available to download.