CRE

noun

ˌsē-ˌär-ˈē

plural CRE

: any bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae that is resistant to most antibiotics including carbapenems and may cause severe infections (as of the blood or urinary tract) especially in hospitalized patients

Note: Bacteria that may become CRE include E.coli and species of the genus Klebsiella (such as K. pneumoniae).

… all antibiotic-resistant bacteria arise as bacteria adapt to antibiotics, but the increase in CRE in recent years likely stems at least in part from increased person-to-person transmission.—

Tracy Hampton, The Journal of the American Medical Association

… the two people who died are among seven patients that UCLA found were infected by the drug-resistant superbug known as CRE—a number that may grow as more patients get tested.—

Chad Terhune, The Los Angeles Times