Colonization with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Contributes to Unfavorable Outcomes in End-Stage Liver Disease Patients

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are the highest priority pathogens of the World Health Organization, and their prevalence in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients is increasing. CRE colonization is an independent risk factor for CRE infections. We aimed to assess risk factors and explore the relationship between CRE colonization, infection, and prognosis in patients with ESLD. A total of 311 patients with ESLD were screened for CRE colonization by fecal swabs from October 2020 to January 2022. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the broth microdilution method. Carbapenem resistance genes, multilocus sequence type, and capsular serotype were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seventeen CRE strains were detected, among which the most common was Klebsiella pneumoniae. The CRE colonization rate was 5.5%. Artificial liver support was an independent risk factor for CRE colonization. Compared to the non-CRE colonization group, the colonization group had a higher incidence of CRE infection and a worse prognosis. Furthermore, these strains were not closely related, and all were sensitive to polymyxin and tigecycline. There was a high colonization rate in ESLD patients, and colonization strains were highly diverse. CRE colonization deserves attention in these patients, especially when treated with artificial liver support.