DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i12.025

Pages: 2814-2817

Introduction: The spread of carbapenemase producers by Gram negative bacteria has been a cumbersome issue. Several phenotypic and genotypic tests are present for detection of carbapenemases but are time consuming, require expertise and well established laboratory. This study aims at detection of carbapenemase production by using Rapid turnaround time test Rapidec Carba NP. This test is based on the detection of carbapenem hydrolysis by carbapenemase producing bacteria. Hydrolysis acidifies the medium which results in color change of the pH indicator. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of six months duration was done among 150 gram negative bacterial isolates obtained from various clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital. Resistance to carbapenem was detected using Meropenem disk (10μg) by kirby bauer disc diffusion method. Rapidec Carba NP test were carried out on all these carbapenem-resistant GNB isolates. Results: Among 150 Gram negative isolates 29(19%) showed resistance to Meropenem were subjected to Rapidec carba np. 93% (27/29) showed the presence of carbapenemase by Rapidec Carba NP test. Among the carbapenem resistant GNB isolates, 48.27% (14/29) were Klebsiella pneumoniae, 24.13% (7/29) were Escherichia coli, 20.68% (6/29) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 6.89% (2/29) were Acinetobacter baumanni. Conclusion: Rapidec Carba NP was sensitive enough to confirm carbapenemase producing isolates within a short time of less than<2h accurately.