CRE-AF media: an alternative agar for screening of Carbapenemases Producing Enterobacteriales (CPE)

Abstract

Carbapenemases Producing Enterobacteriales (CPE) is a significant health threat world-wide. The ability to detect the organism early is of utmost importance to ensure proper delivery of treatment as well as implementation of infection control measure to curb further spread of the infection. CRE-AF media was developed to ease and fasten the screening and detection process of CPE pathogens. The goal of this testing was to evaluate the performance of CRE-AF media as a screening tool for CPE organisms. Hence, a total of 96-Gram negative organisms ranging from CPE, non-CPE, Carbapenemases producing non-Enterobacteriales and Bukholderia pseudomallei were selectively chosen to determine the ability of the agar to detect carbapenemases producer and to either inhibit or differentiate the growth of non-CPE organisms. The presence of CPE was specified by the growth of yellow colonies with haze formation around them after 24 hours of incubation. Our finding indicated that CRE-AF was a suitable screening tool for the detection of CPE. The agar was reported to exhibit 92% sensitivity and 93.4% specificity and hence, can be used by laboratory for early detection of CPE.