Evaluation of theK-SeT R.E.S.I.S.T. immunochromatographic assay for the rapid detection of KPC and OXA-48-like carbapenemases: Table 1.

Sir, The worldwide emergence of carbapenemases is a major health issue leaving clinicians with few treatment options. Implementation of infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures relies on early detection of carbapenemase producers and distinction from other carbapenem resistance mechanisms. Various carbapenem hydrolysis methods allow detection of carbapenemase activity but do not differentiate between the carbapenemase families.1 Inhibitor-based tests can help with identification of KPC and metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), but only high-level temocillin resistance has been proposed as a marker for OXA-48-like carbapenemases.1–3 Recently, the use of discs impregnated with imipenem and EDTA with or without phenyl boronic acid has been proposed for detecting OXA-48-like carbapenemases.4 Molecular detection methods represent the gold standard, but they require expertise and laboratory facilities that may be unaffordable in some settings. Both biochemical and molecular methods have their limitations; e.g., both in-house and commercial assays may not reliably detect OXA-48-like variants.5,6 Recently, Glupczynski et al.7 reported the development of an immunochromatographic lateral-flow assay that detects specific epitopes of KPC and OXA-48-like carbapenemases directly from bacterial colonies in 15 min. We evaluated the performance of the K-SeT R.E.S.I.S.T. assays (Coris BioConcept, Gembloux, Belgium) to detect KPC and OXA-48-like carbapenemases.