Outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in Lithuania, 2019

Lithuania reported an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant, and for some cases, colistin-resistant, Enterobacterales in November 2019. Between 1 February and 26 November 2019, 199 cases were detected, including cases with infection as well as carriage. The majority of cases (186 cases) occurred in one single hospital (Hospital 1). Most of the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae (93%), followed by Escherichia coli. In all isolates, carbapenem resistance was mediated by a Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) enzyme.