Risk factors associated with carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae fecal carriage: A case-control study in a Spanish tertiary care hospital.

Asymptomatic colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is an important reservoir for transmission that may precede infection. This prospective, observational, case–control study was designed to identify risk factors for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) fecal carriage. This study included 87 cases and 200 controls. Multivariate analysis identified length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.03; P  = .03), previous hospitalization (OR, 5.89; 95% CI, 1.73-20.68; P  = .01), antibiotic use (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.65-0.62; P  = .01), and corticosteroid use (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15-0.74; P  = .007) as independent risk factors for CPKP rectal carriage. Length of hospital stay, previous hospitalization, corticosteroid use, and antimicrobial exposure are important risk factors for CPKP rectal colonization. Adherence to infection control practices and directed surveillance programs appear to be critical components for CPKP control programs.