Detection of carbapenemase-producers: Evaluating the performance of the carbapenem inactivation method and Carba NP test versus multiplex PCR.

Objectives: With a worrisome surge of carbapenem-resistant bacterial isolates, the diagnostic arsenal has become in dire need of affordable and timely assays to detect the rapidly transmissible carbapenemases. Employing multiplex PCR as a reference method, the purpose of the present study was to compare the performance of the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) and the Carba NP test in the detection of carbapenemase-producers.

Methods: A panel of 203 Gram-negative bacterial isolates screened for carbapenem resistance were subjected to the CIM and Carba NP test.