Emergence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae strains in Padua (Italy) from January 2008 to July 2012: phenotypic and genotipic assays


Submitted: 12 February 2014
Accepted: 12 February 2014
Published: 30 April 2013
Abstract Views: 1080
PDF: 1208
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Introduction: In the management of nosocomial infections, the emergence of carbapenem-resistance in Enterobacteriaceae strains is a matter of increasing concern. The aim of this study was to detect and actively survey the presence of these strains by using phenotypic and genotypic assays. Methods: The screening of the strains with reduced carbapenem susceptibility was carried out using the automated Vitek®2 System (bioMérieux). Subsequently, we performed both different confirmation phoenotypic assays (Modified Hodge Test, Kirby-Bauer test, Etest® MBL MP/MPI, Etest® AmpC, Mueller-Hinton/cloxacillin test) and molecular identification tests ( PCR assays). Results: All the screened carbapenemase-producing strains (on the bases of the phenotypic tests results) were confirmed to harbour β-lactamase genes (by PCR analysis): 460 strains were positive for the presence of the blaKPC and 6 for the presence of the blaVIM gene. Conclusions: KPC-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae strains caused in our hospital,in the period 2008-2012, an outbreak of infection that was subsequently restricted with effective containment measures. It is mandatory that all carbapenemase-producing species will be closely monitored in hospital setting, to contain the possible rapid spread of strains showing more expansion properties and virulence.

Bartolini, A., Frasson, I., Biasolo, M. A., De Canale, E., Tommasini, T., Boldrin, C., Rossi, L., N. Richter, S., & Cavallaro, A. (2013). Emergence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae strains in Padua (Italy) from January 2008 to July 2012: phenotypic and genotipic assays. Microbiologia Medica, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/mm.2013.2281

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