What starts as a simple infection, can quickly lead to much more serious injury or even death. This is the opinion of several medical researchers who warn that the spread of a deadly and drug-resistant bacteria known as Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae, could quickly claim thousands of lives at hospitals and nursing homes.

The proliferation of CRE has gained attention in recent years as researchers attempt to identify, track and treat patients infected with the dangerous bacteria. Doing so, however, has proved challenging as the majority of hospitals, nursing homes and medical clinics lack the ability to both diagnose patients who may be carrying the bacteria as well as effectively treat and track them. As a result, many of these patients travel from clinic to clinic and often eventually end up in the hospital.

Compounding the problem of controlling the spread of CRE is the fact that the bacteria often lays dormant in an individual until their immune system becomes compromised. This means individuals who are carrying CRE are more likely to infect others. Especially vulnerable are residents at nursing homes and patients at hospitals.

According to information released by the Centers for Disease and Prevention, improved record keeping and sharing may be key to preventing the spread of CRE. Additionally, hospitals and nursing homes need to improve safety methods for preventing the spread of CRE. This means ensuring rooms are properly and routinely disinfected and promoting wide-spread sanitary programs to promote hand washing amongst all employees.

Hospitals and nursing homes that fail to take the necessary safety measures to protect patients and residents may be liable for any resulting CRE-related injuries or deaths.

Source: USA Today, "Deadly 'superbugs' invade U.S. health care facilities," Peter Eisler, Nov. 29, 2012