INFECTIONS BY OXA-48-PRODUCING ENTEROBACTERIACEAE IN SEVERE BURN PATIENTS: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Burn patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) are particularly vulnerable to infections, which are the leading cause of death, whether bacterial or fungal. Prognosis is further compromised when the causative pathogens are multidrug-resistant bacteria, a growing global threat that limits therapeutic options, especially due to the lack of progress in the development of new antibiotics. Among these pathogens, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), particularly those producing the OXA-48 enzyme, are a leading cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial infections, with OXA-48 being the most prevalent carbapenemase gene in Morocco. We report the case of a 12-year-old child admitted for severe thermal burns who developed colonization by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter aerogenes (OXA-48) during hospitalization. Based on this case and a review of the literature, we discuss the profile of healthcare-associated infections in severe burn patients, the diagnosis, and the therapeutic management of infections caused by CPE.