The independent platform for news, articles and advice for professionals in laboratory medicine

Multiplex real-time PCR kits for β-lactamase genes

β-lactamase enzymes inactivate β-lactam antibiotics and render them ineffective for the treatment of clinically important Gram-negative bacterial infections. Now, two new kits from Streck, available in the UK from Alpha Laboratories, provide a comprehensive, cost-effective molecular method to detect the most clinically important β-lactamases that confer resistance to penicillins, cephamycins and, in some cases, carbapenems.

The antibiotic resistance monitoring and detection (ARMD) kits are multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits that can detect more than 450 β-lactamase gene variants quickly. The ARMD kit, β-Lactamase, detects nine different carbapenemases, extended-spectrum b-lactamases (ESBLs) and plasmid-mediated ampC gene families. The ARMD Kit, ampC, targets six plasmid-mediated ampC resistance gene families and can differentiate plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamase resistance from chromosomal resistance.

These genotypic detection methods identify the most prevalent types of β-lactamase-based antibiotic resistance and complement phenotypic methods for the detection of multidrug-resistant organisms. They can be used with standard susceptibility tests to improve surveillance and epidemiological tracking, for improved infection control and increased effectiveness of antibiotic stewardship programmes.

AmpC β-lactamases are chromosomally encoded in many bacterial species. Their over-expression can lead to resistance to most β-lactam antibiotics, causing therapeutic failure. Transmissible plasmids with acquired genes for AmpC β-lactamases

often cause increased β-lactamase production and can appear in organisms lacking or having low-level expression of a chromosomal ampC gene. Resistance due to plasmid-mediated AmpC enzymes can be broad in spectrum and often hard to detect. As Gram-negative organisms producing multiple or plasmid-mediated β-lactamases are difficult to identify phenotypically, more specific detection methods are essential for the identification of clinically important β-lactamases, and selection of the appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Detection and genetic identification of both plasmid-mediated and chromosomally expressed AmpC β-lactamases are crucial for better understanding of these resistance mechanisms and, consequently, for active surveillance and infection control.

www.alphalabs.co.uk

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

USCAP 113th Annual Meeting

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

Diagnostics North East Conference 2024

The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

ECCMID 2024 - European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Pathology In Practice app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025