Global Trends in Carbapenem- and Difficult-to-Treat-Resistance Among World Health Organization Priority Bacterial Pathogens: ATLAS Surveillance Program 2018-2022

The ATLAS global surveillance program collected clinical isolates of Gram-negative priority pathogens from 2018 to 2022. Results showed an increase in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) detection in APAC, EUR, LATAM, and MEA regions, and a decrease in NA. Annual DTR percentages increased in all five regions. CRE percentages were primarily due to hospital-acquired infections. KPC is, in fact, the most frequent carbapenemase found in both NA and EUR (among the meropenem non-susceptible
Enterobacterales). The study highlights the need for ongoing surveillance to inform treatment strategies and antimicrobial stewardship.