Which statement describes CRE?

Which statement describes CRE?

• A. Cephalosporin-resistant Enteric Bacteria
• B. Carboxylate-resistant Enterobacterales
• C. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales
• D. Ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacterales

Answer: (C)

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are Enterobacterales bacteria that are not inhibited by carbapenem antibiotics, which are often used as last-resort treatments for serious Gram-negative infections. This resistance can come from enzymes that break down carbapenems (carbapenemases such as KPC, NDM, VIM, or OXA-48) or from a combination of mechanisms like reduced drug entry (porin loss) with other beta-lactamases (ESBLs or AmpC). The term CRE specifically captures resistance to carbapenems, which is why it’s the correct description. Other options describe resistance to cephalosporins or use nonstandard phrasing, and do not define the same resistance pattern to carbapenems.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales are Enterobacterales bacteria that are not inhibited by carbapenem antibiotics, which are often used as last-resort treatments for serious Gram-negative infections. This resistance can come from enzymes that break down carbapenems (carbapenemases such as KPC, NDM, VIM, or OXA-48) or from a combination of mechanisms like reduced drug entry (porin loss) with other beta-lactamases (ESBLs or AmpC). The term CRE specifically captures resistance to carbapenems, which is why it’s the correct description. Other options describe resistance to cephalosporins or use nonstandard phrasing, and do not define the same resistance pattern to carbapenems.