Comparison of Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute standards in antimicrobial susceptibility among the carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae

Aim Carbapenems are antibiotics reserved for treatment of severe infections. Carbapenem antimicrobial susceptibility testing profiles were determined in a population of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and their resistance assessed based on previous and current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute criteria. Materials & methods Isolates were examined using an automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing method, and real time polymerase chain reaction to detect the resistance (blaKPC) gene. Results The prevalence of blaKPC gene was 45/54 (83.3%). Five isolates that were susceptible under the previous criteria changed to nonsusceptible with the current standards. The overall difference in susceptibility between the standards was 8%. Conclusion This study shows that the current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute criteria may not offer additional benefits in the fight against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.