Changes in gastrointestinal carriage of multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli in a predominantly rural population served by a district general hospital

Multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MRGNB) have emerged as an important cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial infection.1 Ever diminishing treatment options for infections caused by these bacteria have focused attention on infection prevention strategies such as screening of patients for carriage of MRGNB, which, in turn, would allow colonised patients to be cared for in isolation.2 Development and implementation of a screening programme in a healthcare facility rely on an understanding of the levels of colonisation in the population served, as well as monitoring over time to identify trends in carriage rates. We have seen a steady increase in infections caused by MRGNB, particularly urinary tract infections, and accordingly we undertook a study to determine the incidence of faecal carriage …