Comparison of screening methods for carbapenemase producing organisms in the clinical laboratory

Abstract

Carbapenemase producing organisms (CPOs) are an emerging threat in healthcare facilities. Infections with CPOs lead to higher healthcare costs for both patients and providers. An increase in these organisms could lead to a post-antibiotic era that causes serious injury in what was once viewed as a routine infection. Outbreaks have been reported since 2001, with the largest outbreak hitting the USA in 2011. The spread of CPOs spans most of the world where numbers are tracked and reported. Resistant organisms become even harder to track since different resistant genes reside in different locations (KPC, NDM, OXA-48, etc.). Screening for CPOs can help the nosocomial spread by placing the patient in isolation. This review will give an overview of the different ways to screen and detect CPOs. It will also compare the pros and cons of each method such as cost, turn around time and sensitivity. Determining the most accurate and cost efficient method can help to alleviate stress on providers, patients and clinical laboratories.