Carbapenem-resistant non-glucose-fermenting gram-negative bacilli: The missing piece to the puzzle

The non-glucose-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are increasingly acquiring carbapenem resistance. Given their intrinsic antibiotic resistance, this can cause extremely difficult-to-treat infections. Additionally, resistance gene transfer can occurbetween Gram-negative species, regardless of their ability to ferment glucose. Thus, the acquisition of carbapenemase genes by these organisms increases the risk of carbapenemase spread in general. Ultimately, infection control practitionersandclinical microbiologists need toworktogether to determine the risk carried by carbapenem-resistant non-glucose-fermentingGram-negativebacilli (CR-NF) in their institutionandwhatmethods shouldbe considered for surveillanceanddetectionofCR-NF.