DEAR DR. GOTT: While watching television, I saw an article on a new form of bug that has invaded our country. Can you elaborate on what they refer to as CRKP?
DEAR READER: Actually, it’s not so new. The CDC began tracking CRKP in 2009. CRKP stands for Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. It is a gram-negative bacteria known to cause infection in the bloodstream, at surgical or wound sites and in cases of pneumonia and meningitis in healthcare settings, specifically nursing homes and long-term-care hospitals.
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