Extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales faecal carriage in a medical intensive care unit: low rates of cross-transmission and infection.

ESBL-E expansion and acquisition in ICU in a non-outbreak situation are not any more fully explained by cross-transmission. Mechanisms underlying ESBL-E dissemination in ICU are still to investigate. Interestingly, as far as we know, our study demonstrates for the first time by PFGE that the colonizing strain is indeed the infecting one in case of subsequent ESBL-E infection. Nevertheless, subsequent ESBL-E infection remains a rare event conferring poor positive predictive value for ESBL-E colonization to predict ESBL-E VAP. Relevance of systematic ESBL-E faecal screening at ICU admission and during ICU stay needs further investigation.