1. Academic Validation
  2. Rapid detection of cefepime-taniborbactam susceptibility/resistance in Enterobacterales

Rapid detection of cefepime-taniborbactam susceptibility/resistance in Enterobacterales

  • Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2025 Jun 20;66(4):107557. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2025.107557.
Christophe Le Terrier 1 Laurent Poirel 2 Auriane Kerbol 3 Maxime Bouvier 4 Patrice Nordmann 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Emerging Antibiotic Resistance Unit, Medical & Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Science & Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Division of Intensive Care, Department of Acute Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, Intensive Care & Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
  • 2 Emerging Antibiotic Resistance Unit, Medical & Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Science & Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance, Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address: laurent.poirel@unifr.ch.
  • 3 Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance, Fribourg, Switzerland.
  • 4 Emerging Antibiotic Resistance Unit, Medical & Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Science & Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance, Fribourg, Switzerland.
Abstract

Objective: Metallo-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales is widely distributed and confers resistance to all β-lactams, including carbapenems. Recently, a cefepime-taniborbactam combination has been developed that aims to provide a treatment option for infections caused by metallo-β-lactamase-producing bacteria. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid diagnostic test, namely the Rapid Cefepime-Taniborbactam NP test, for the early identification of cefepime-taniborbactam susceptibility or resistance in Enterobacterales.

Methods: The Rapid Cefepime-Taniborbactam NP test is based on the detection of glucose metabolism resulting from Bacterial growth, detectable by a change in colour of a red phenol (from red to yellow) in the presence of cefepime-taniborbactam. A total of 103 Enterobacterales isolates, including 94 carbapenemase producers, were selected for evaluation of the performance of the Rapid Cefepime-Taniborbactam NP test. In the absence of available breakpoints, two provisional breakpoints were taken for the interpretation-one corresponding to the current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute cefepime resistance breakpoint (R ≥ 16 mg/L) and one following current literature on this combination (R ≥ 32 mg/L).

Results: The test demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 98%, respectively, following a resistance breakpoint of ≥16 mg/L. When considering a resistance breakpoint of ≥32 mg/L, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 100% and 91%, respectively. All results were obtained within a 3 h incubation period at 35°C ± 2°C, representing a significant reduction in time compared with current antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods.

Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the Rapid Cefepime-Taniborbactam NP test is a highly accurate and time-efficient technique for the detection of Bacterial resistance.

Keywords

Cefepime-taniborbactam; Enterobacterales; Rapid NP test.

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