Rapid Detection of KPC, NDM, and OXA-48-Like Carbapenemases by Real-Time PCR from Rectal Swab Surveillance Samples

We describe a multiplex real-time PCR assay for use on the ABI 7500 Fast TaqMan platform to detect all currently described Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC), New Delhi metallo--lactamases (NDM), and the OXA-48-like family of carbap-enemases from bacterial culture lysates or sample enrichment broth lysates. The prevention of transmission of carbapenemase-producingorganisms (CPO) within health care facilities requires accu-rate and rapid laboratory detectionmethods so that infection con-trol precautions may be quickly implemented. In the midst of an outbreak, rapid case identification is required, and conventional methods can take too long and be very labor intensive, resulting in delays in infection control and significant costs to the health care system. Molecular methods are fast and generally have higher sen-sitivity and specificity than phenotypic methods, and methods developed in-house are typically less expensive than commer-cially available kits. The published methods for the molecular detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC), Ne