Rapid Detection of Carbapenemase- producing

To rapidly identify carbapenemase producers in En-terobacteriaceae, we developed the Carba NP test. The test uses isolated bacterial colonies and is based on in vitro hy-drolysis of a carbapenem, imipenem. It was 100 % sensitive and specifi c compared with molecular-based techniques. This rapid (<2 hours), inexpensive technique may be imple-mented in any laboratory. Multidrug resistance is emerging worldwide at an alarming rate among a variety of bacterial species, causing both community-acquired and nosocomial infec-tions (1). Carbapenems, the last line of therapy, are now fre-quently needed to treat nosocomial infections, and increas-ing resistance to this class of β-lactams leaves the health care system with almost no effective drugs (1). However, reports of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae have increased (2,3). Resistance may be related to association of a decrease in bacterial outer-membrane permeability, with overexpression of β-lactamases with no carbapenemase ac-tivity or to expression of carbapenemases (2,4,5). Spread of carbapenemase producers is a relevant clinical issue be-cause carbapenemases confer resistance to most β-lactams (2). Various carbapenemases have been reported in Entero-bacteriaceae, such as the following types: Klebsiella pneu