Evaluation of Methods To Identify the Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase in Enterobacteriaceae

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 2723 - 2725
• Main Authors: Anderson, K.F, Lonsway, D.R, Rasheed, J.K, Biddle, J, Jensen, B, McDougal, L.K, Carey, R.B, Thompson, A, Stocker, S, Limbago, B, Patel, J.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01-08-2007
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial Proteins - analysis; Bacteriology; beta-Lactam Resistance; beta-Lactamases - analysis; beta-Lactams - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae - enzymology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Bacteria; Identification; Method; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X; 1098-5530
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00015-07

The Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenem (KPC) β-lactamase occurs in Enterobacteriaceae and can confer resistance to all β-lactam agents including carbapenems. The enzyme may confer low-level carbapenem resistance, and the failure of susceptibility methods to identify this resistance has been reported. Automated and nonautomated methods for carbapenem susceptibility were evaluated for identification of KPC-mediated resistance. Ertapenem was a more sensitive indicator of KPC resistance than meropenem and imipenem independently of the method used. Carbapenemase production could be confirmed with the modified Hodge test.