CRAB for Health Professionals
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Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
Reporting CRAB
On March 1, 2020, MDH initiated statewide surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
On this page:
What to report
How to report
Submitting clinical materials
Who is required to report
Reporting: proposal and notification letters
What to report
CRAB must be reported to MDH within one working day after the test result is finalized.
Surveillance Case Definition
- Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter baumannii complex isolated from any body site that meets the following criteria:
- Resistant to imipenem, meropenem, or doripenem based on current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M100 Standards; and/or
- Demonstrates production of a carbapenemase or the presence of a carbapenemase gene (e.g., PCR positive for a carbapenemase)
- Current CLSI minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disk diffusion interpretive criteria for CRAB (isolates meeting either the MIC or disk diffusion criteria are reportable):
| Antibiotic | MIC (µg/mL) | Disk Diffusion |
| Imipenem | ≥8, R | ≤18 mm, R |
| Meropenem | ≥8, R | ≤14 mm, R |
| Doripenem | ≥8, R | ≤14 mm, R |
How to report
- Yellow Disease Report Card
CRAB may be reported using the MDH "Yellow Card."
- Phone
Any reportable infectious disease may be reported by phone to 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414.
Submitting clinical materials
- CRAB Isolate Submission and Laboratory Testing
Submission of CRAB isolates to MDH is required.
Who is required to report
- Health care practitioners (health care facilities, medical laboratories, and in certain circumstances veterinarians and veterinary medical laboratories) are required to report disease to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) under Minnesota state law.
- Unless previously reported, every licensed health care provider who provides care to any patient who has, is suspected of having, or has died from a reportable disease is required to report.
- Any person in charge of any institution, school, child care facility, or camp is also required to report disease to MDH.
Reporting: proposal and notification letters
- Proposal for Conducting Statewide Surveillance for Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in Minnesota under the Minnesota Communicable Disease Rule (4605.7080) (PDF)
The proposal explaining the rationale for this change. The Commissioner of Health has the authority to require reporting of newly recognized or emerging diseases and syndromes suspected to be of infectious origin per Minn. Rules 4605.7080. - Commissioner's Letter to Minnesota Hospital and Reference Laboratories Regarding Reporting of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) (PDF)
02/26/2020 - Commissioner's Letter to Minnesota Hospital Infection Preventionists (IPs) Regarding Reporting of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) (PDF)
02/26/2020