Carrier of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

This code identifies an individual who is a known carrier of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). These bacteria are a significant public health concern due to their resistance to most available antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. A carrier harbors the bacteria without necessarily showing active symptoms of infection.

This code is appropriate for documenting a patient who has tested positive for CRE colonization but does not have an active CRE infection. It is often used in surveillance, public health reporting, or when a patient is identified as a carrier during screening protocols, such as prior to admission to a healthcare facility.

• This code is for asymptomatic carriers; use a code for active infection if the patient has signs and symptoms.
• Always sequence this code after any codes for underlying conditions or reasons for encounter.
• Consider additional codes for the specific type of Enterobacterales if known and documented (e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae).