Empirical Therapy in High-Risk Hematological Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Colonization: Real-World Treatment Decisions and Antimicrobial Stewardship Implications

Background/objectives

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) colonization is a risk factor for infection in hematological patients, but only a minority of colonized individuals develop invasive disease. This creates a stewardship dilemma between ensuring prompt, appropriate empirical therapy and avoiding unnecessary exposure to novel anti-CRE agents. We aimed to describe real-world empirical treatment decisions in CRE-colonized hematological patients.