LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

New Medium Launched for Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 14 Dec 2011
Image: Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (Photo courtesy of Oxoid).
Image: Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (Photo courtesy of Oxoid).
A medium was designed to make it quicker and easier to screen for and detect carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

The Brilliance CRE agar can be used by laboratories to screen patient samples for CRE. The Oxoid (Basingstoke, United Kingdom) Brilliance CRE agar provides clinicians with results in around 18 to 24 hours, enabling them to start infection control measures sooner. The Oxoid Brilliance CRE agar is claimed to be easier to use and read than the Hodge test that is traditionally used to detect resistance to carbapenems.

The spread of infections by resistant bacteria such as CRE can only be stopped by rapidly identifying and isolating hospital patients who are infected with the resistant strain.

Brilliance CRE agar contains a modified carbapenem, at levels recommended by both the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) and Eucast, ensuring reliable detection of numerous CRE strains, including those with the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1(NDM-1) mechanism of resistance.

Chromogenic compounds in the agar medium differentiate between resistant Escherichia coli (pink colonies) and Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, or Citrobacter (KESC) organisms (blue colonies). The colonies of other resistant organisms appear white and are easy to spot against the novel pigmented agar.

Carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, and doripenem) are invaluable for the treatment of infections due to multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria, including producers of extended-spectrum-lactamases. However, the rapid emergence and dissemination of Enterobacteriaceae that are resistant to carbapenems poses a considerable threat to clinical patient care and public health. Early detection of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) will allow faster implementation of appropriate strategies to limit the spread of these pathogens.

Related Links:

Oxoid
Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute

Gold Member
Fibrinolysis Assay
HemosIL Fibrinolysis Assay Panel
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
8-Channel Pipette
SAPPHIRE 20–300 µL
6 Part Hematology Analyzer with RET + IPF
Mispa HX 88

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The diagnostic device can tell how deadly brain tumors respond to treatment from a simple blood test (Photo courtesy of UQ)

Diagnostic Device Predicts Treatment Response for Brain Tumors Via Blood Test

Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, largely because doctors have no reliable way to determine whether treatments are working in real time. Assessing therapeutic response currently... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Circulating tumor cells isolated from blood samples could help guide immunotherapy decisions (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Blood Test Identifies Lung Cancer Patients Who Can Benefit from Immunotherapy Drug

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options, and even newly approved immunotherapies do not benefit all patients. While immunotherapy can extend survival for some,... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Vitestro has shared a detailed visual explanation of its Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (photo courtesy of Vitestro)

Robotic Technology Unveiled for Automated Diagnostic Blood Draws

Routine diagnostic blood collection is a high‑volume task that can strain staffing and introduce human‑dependent variability, with downstream implications for sample quality and patient experience.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: Roche’s cobas® Mass Spec solution enables fully automated mass spectrometry in routine clinical laboratories (Photo courtesy of Roche)

New Collaboration Brings Automated Mass Spectrometry to Routine Laboratory Testing

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical technique that identifies and quantifies molecules based on their mass and electrical charge. Its high selectivity, sensitivity, and accuracy make it indispensable... Read more