PetriKey

Concept

CRE

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales

C-R-E

resistancecarbapenementerobacteralesamrbeta-lactamase

High-yield clue

CRE means carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales; some important CRE involve carbapenemases such as KPC or NDM.

Overview

A resistance concept used to teach carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and public-health terms such as KPC or NDM carbapenemases.

Classification

  • Resistance concept
  • Antimicrobial-resistance vocabulary

Lab & identification clues

  • Carbapenem resistance vocabulary
  • KPC/NDM carbapenemase terms
  • Susceptibility category concept

Associations

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae
  • E. coli
  • Healthcare-associated AMR

Commonly confused with

  • ESBL
  • VRE
  • MRSA

Your notes

Original microbiology concept summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC/WHO topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment selection, infection-control instructions, or specimen-handling guidance.

OpenStax: Microbiology 2e concept foundationssourceNCBI Bookshelf: Medical Microbiology general conceptssourceCDC: CDC public-health concept pagessource