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A new CDC-led study reveals a sharp rise in carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections among pediatric patients in US hospitals. From 2019 to 2024, overall pediatric CRE cases climbed 51%, while the hardest-to-treat NDM-producing strain surged fourfold. Most affected children had serious underlying conditions, and treatment options remain dangerously limited for this age group.
A new study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society is sounding the alarm on a growing threat in US children's hospitals: carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), a family of bacteria that has developed resistance to most available antibiotics. CDC researchers analyzed over 1,800 cases from children aged 18 and under between 2019 and 2024, finding a troubling and accelerating trend.
The most concerning driver is the NDM-producing strain of CRE, which saw a fourfold increase over the study period and carries some of the most limited treatment options of any bacterial infection. Most affected children had serious underlying health conditions — including heart disease, cancer, and neurocognitive disorders — and many had prior ICU stays or received healthcare outside the US.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Unlike adults, children have far fewer approved treatment options for these resistant infections, making early detection and prevention critical. This study underscores an urgent need for pediatric-specific antibiotic therapies and stronger antimicrobial stewardship in hospital settings.
