Evaluation of the New NucliSENS EasyQ KPC Test for Rapid Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase Gene (blaKPC)

KPC-type carbapenemases are emerging in Klebsiella pneumoniae and other Gram-negative pathogens worldwide. Rapid and sensitive detection of these resistance determinants has become relevant to clinical management and infection control. We evaluated the bioMérieux EasyQ real-time PCR assay for blaKPC detection with 300 members of the Enterobacteriaceae, including 29 control strains producing known carbapenemases and 271 nonreplicate clinical isolates. The EasyQ assay correctly detected all of the 111 isolates harboring blaKPC genes, with no false positives, and results were available within 2 h. Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.