NHS County Durham and Darlington CCGs
Infection Prevention and Control Team
Sedgefield Community Hospital
Salters Lane
Sedgefield
TS21 3EE
Tel: 0191 371 3233
ESBL-PRODUCING BACTERIA - FACT SHEET
What Is ESBL?

ESBL stands for Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase which is an enzyme
produced by some bacteria that are resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

Bacteria that produce ESBL (for example some E. coli and Klebsiella) may be
found in the bowel, where they survive without causing any problem. ESBLproducing bacteria are no more likely to cause infection than other non ESBLproducing bacteria found within everyone’s bowel. However, like other bacteria,
they occasionally end up in part of the body where they wouldn’t normally be and
then can cause an infection, for example, a urinary tract infection.
Who is at risk?

The elderly; hospitalised patients; patients who have received antibiotics; and
those with urinary catheters, are most at risk of developing infection with ESBLproducing bacteria.
Can infections caused by ESBL-producing bacteria be treated?

Yes – but treatment is only required if a person is unwell and has signs and
symptoms of infection.

Infections due to ESBL-producing bacteria can be treated with antibiotics, but the
choice may be limited.
How is it spread?

ESBL-producing bacteria can be spread on the hands of healthcare staff or
residents or by contact with contaminated equipment or the environment.
1
Infection Prevention and Control Measures

Hand hygiene is the single most important procedure for preventing the spread of
ESBL-producing bacteria.

Strict and thorough hand hygiene with liquid soap and water and paper hand
towels.

Personal protective equipment – single use gloves and aprons for handling bodily
fluids, for cleaning patient area and equipment.

Not all residents will be required to stay in their room. However individual risk
assessments should be made with the Infection Prevention and Control team and
will be dependent on where the bacteria are found.

All sanitary items, e.g. urine bottles, commode pans must be processed through
a washer / disinfector or disposable.

Thorough environmental cleaning should be carried out to reduce transmission
from any environmental contamination with ESBL-producing bacteria.

The correct use of antibiotics is important in preventing bacteria from producing
the ESBL enzyme – use antibiotics only when an infection is present that needs
antibiotic treatment, use the right antibiotic, at the right dose, for the right number
of days.
Visitors
Friends and family / visitors are not at risk from ESBL-producing bacteria, although
thorough hand hygiene should be carried out after direct contact with all residents.
Infection Prevention and Control Team
Date:
Review Date:
July 2015
August 2018
2