merrion street

The National Public Health Emergency Team on Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) held their ninth meeting today, 04 January 2018.

The focus of the agenda and items discussed included an update from the Implementation Team, the membership and work of the Expert Group and the latest figures from the National CPE Reference Laboratory.

The Implementation Team updated on correspondence that was issued to Hospital Groups CEOs, on 22 December, in relation to implementation of screening requirements. Confirmation of implementation of screening in critical care areas and haematology and transplant wards has been sought and a status report will be provided to the National Public Health Emergency Team at their next meeting on 11th January 2018.

The Expert Group are due to conclude their review of the HSE documents

“Requirements for screening of patients for CPE in the acute hospital sector” and draft “Guidance relating to CPE interventions for control of transmission of CPE in the acute hospital sector” shortly.

The Expert Group will update the National Public Health Emergency Team of the outcome of this review at their next meeting. Membership of the group will be published on the Department of Health’s website.

The latest figures from the National CPE Reference Laboratory were presented to the group. In the week from 18th to 24th December 2017 a total of nine new patients with CPE were detected and in the week from 25th to 31st December there were ten new patients with CPE detected. Figures for all of 2017 will be included in a national surveillance report which is due for publication by the end of January 2018.

The minutes of all previous meetings and related documents are published on a dedicated page on the Department of Health website.