CPE Biology and Damp-Hospital Ecology

Distinguish carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales from carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales using phenotypic and genomic evidence.

Explain how the major carbapenemase families differ in mechanism, genetic context, and epidemiological significance.

Identify the roles of insertion sequences, transposons, integrons, and plasmids in carbapenemase-gene mobilisation.

Explain why sinks, drains, toilets, and showers can select for and sustain CPE populations and resistance plasmids.

Distinguish clonal strain transmission from horizontal transfer of a resistance plasmid.

Formulate testable genomic hypotheses linking damp-environment reservoirs, colonisation, and patient infection.