Tackling Resistance And Healthcare Economics through CPE screening
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Multi-centre evaluation of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) prevalence and transmission dynamics, recommendations on screening strategies, and Health Economics Outcomes Research impact to inform policy change
IRAS ID
361309
Contact name
Cheuk Wong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are bacteria which are resistant to most antibiotics including carbapenems, which are a type of antibiotic used as the last resort for serious infections.
Some patients in hospital can carry CPE bacteria in their gut without feeling sick, but then can spread this to other patients. In some patients who are particularly vulnerable, carrying CPE can lead to infections which make them very sick. Outbreaks of CPE in hospital through spread can result in disruption to services and affect a large number of people.
On the other hand, there are prevention and control (IPC) measures which can reduce the risk of CPE spread but this is dependent on knowing which patients are carrying CPE in the first place.
At the moment detection of CPE carriage is done through rectal screening where a swab is used to collect a sample of poo to grow the bacteria – this can take up to 48 hours for results to come back.
We want to study whether a quicker test which gives a rectal screen result within 2 hours can change how we manage patients. We think with the shorter times, we can get more done to reduce the spread of CPE in hospitals and benefit a large number of patients. We also want to work out whether this new way of detecting CPEs fits in with how hospitals work, and if represents value for money.
This study will be done in two large London NHS hospitals with the idea that the results can be applied to other healthcare settings. This work is also timely as it supports UK’s antimicrobial resistance (AMR) strategy and addresses key needs in reducing the spread of resistant infections and improve patient health.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
26/WA/0029
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion