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Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are an emerging threat worldwide. In 2006, multiple hospitals in Israel experienced outbreaks of CRE infection. In March 2007, after infection-control experts realized that CRE was spreading throughout the country, the Israel Ministry of Health issued guidelines consisting of three components:
Mandatory reporting of carriers (patients for whom any culture grew CRE)
Mandatory isolation of hospitalized carriers (contact isolation; placement in self-contained units staffed by dedicated nurses)
Creation of a national task force
In April 2007, the guidelines were implemented in all 27 acute care hospitals in the country (total, 13,040 beds). Now, researchers have reviewed hospital data to determine the e…