Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO) - management guidelines

Carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter spp. (CPA), carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas spp. (CPP) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are ‘routine’ notifiable conditions. Pathology services must notify the Department of Health in writing within 5 business days. This can be completed by faxing the laboratory report to 1300 651 170 or via Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR). Notification is a Victorian statutory requirement. Results must be reported. This is regardless of whether these have arisen from sporadic cases or as part of a recognised local outbreak.

All isolates of suspected or confirmed CPA, CPP and CPE from clinical, screening or environmental samples are required to be referred to the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL) for confirmatory testing. This requirement applies to all isolates. This includes those from repeat testing of the same patient.

Victorian guidelines on CPO and CPE are available, along with associated forms, templates and resources.

For the list of current transmission risk areas (TRAs) see the VICNISS Coordinating Centre(opens in a new window) website. To view the TRA list, you need approved access to the VICNISS portal.

Information on the antimicrobial resistance patterns (antibiogram) in Victorian CPO received at the MDU PHL(opens in a new window) is available on the MDU PHL(opens in a new window) website in the epidemiology section.

Surveillance data on CPO in Victoria is available through Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales surveillance report(opens in a new window).