Background
- Enzymes that hydrolyze carbapenems
- Includes members of most Ambler classes
- Class A: KPC
- Class B: NDM, IMI, VIM
- Class C: AmpCs
- Class D: OXA-48
Identification
- Screening is done by identifying isolates with decreased susceptibility to one or more carbapenems
- A modified Hodge test can confirm the presence of a carbapenemase, but is no longer routinely recommended
- Modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM)
- Place meropenem disc in a suspension of the test isolate, and incubate at 35ºC for 4 hours
- Remove disc, squeezing out excess fluid, and place on a lawn of susceptible Escherichia coli
- Positive for carbapenemase if zone diameter is clear ≤15 mm (or pinpoint colonies up to 18 mm)
- Negative if zone diameter is clear ≥19 mm
- Indeterminate if clear diameter 16 to 18 mm, or pinpoint colonies ≥19 mm
- EDTA-modified carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM)
- Only done if mCIM is positive, to test for metallo-β-lactamases
- As above for mCIM, but adds EDTA to the tube
- Positive for metallo-β-lactamase if zone diameter increases ≥5 mm from mCIM
- Ignore pinpoint colonies within any zones of inhibition in the eCIM
Inhibitors
- Avibactam: active against ESBLs, AmpCs, KPC, and OXA-48, but not MBLs
- Relebactam: active against KPC, but not OXA-48, VIM, GES, or MBLs
- Tazobactam: active against Pseudomonas, but limited activity against carbapenemases otherwise
- Vaborbactam: active against KPC, but limited activity against MBLs and OXA-48, Pseudomonas, or Acinetobacter
Management
