CPO Complete, a novel test for fast, accurate phenotypic detection and classification of carbapenemases

Rapid, accurate detection of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) and the classification of their carbapenemases are valuable tools for reducing the mortality of the CPO-associated infections, preventing the spread of CPOs, and optimizing use of new {beta}-lactamase inhibitor combinations such as ceftazidime/avibactam and meropenem/vaborbactam. The current study evaluated the performance of CPO Complete, a novel, manual, phenotypic carbapenemase detection and classification test. The test was evaluated for sensitivity and specificity against 262 CPO isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii and 67 non-CPO isolates. It was also evaluated for carbapenemase classification accuracy against 205 CPOs that produced a single carbapenemase class. The test exhibited 100% sensitivity 98.5% specificity for carbapenemase detection within 90 minutes and detected 74.1% of carbapenemases within 10 minutes. In the classification evaluation, 99.0% of carbapenemases were correctly classified. The test is technically simple and has potential for adaptation to automated instruments. With lyophilized kit storage at temperatures up to 38{degrees}C the CPO Complete test has the potential to provide rapid, accurate carbapenemase detection and classification in both limited resource and technologically advanced laboratories.