Recent advances in the laboratory detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE), mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, have been increasing rapidly on a global scale and are considered to be significant health threats. The most common carbapenemases are KPCs, NDMs, OXA-48-like, IMPs and VIMs but their distribution and prevalence differs between countries. The accurate, simple, cost effective and rapid detection of carbapenemases in clinical laboratories is an important initial step to control the spread of CPE within institutions. The diversity of carbapenemases in general, has challenged a simple approach for the detection of most types of CPE. This article summarizes the current and describes newer techniques available for the detection of carbapenemases among Enterobacteriaceae. The authors also provide a simplified approach for the accurate and rapid detection of CPEs that can easily be implemented in a clinical diagnostic laboratory.