Work

Use of MALDI-TOF VITEK MS for rapid and efficient identification of KPC-type carbapenemases in Enterobacterales carrying the Tn4401a transposon

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose To determine diagnostic validity of MALDI-TOF MS (VITEK MS) system for detecting Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC)- type carbapenemases by identifying the 11,109 Da peak in the mass spectrum generated for species identification as compared to RAPIDEC ® CARBA NP, and the modified carbapenemase inactivation method (mCIM) and the EDTA-modified carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM) in a collection of isolates previously characterized as KPC positive or negative. Methods 210 Enterobacterales clinical strains previously characterized having bla KPC gene, the pKpQIL plasmid and the Tn4401a transposon were evaluated, including 34 positive controls carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with Tn4401a, 30 Enterobacterales bla KPC positive of unknown plasmid background, and 146 negative controls. Accuracy and agreement were established for Vitek MS, RAPIDEC ® CARBA NP, and mCIM/eCIM) tests; ROC curves were compared among these tests. Results The 11,109 Da peak was detected in 100% of KPC Tn4401a positive isolates using Vitek MS, sensitivity of 100% (95% CI 98.53–100), specificity of 95.5% (95% CI 91.7–99.4), positive predictive value (PPV) of 85.0 (95% CI 72.7–97.3), negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% (95% CI 99.6–100) and positive Likelihood Ratio (PLR) of 22.3 (10.2–48.8). Agreement between the three tests was 93.3% Kappa index of 0.90 (95% CI 0.83–0.97, p ≤ 0.05). ROC curves showed areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.95, 0.96 and 0.96 for the VITEK MS, RAPIDEC CARBA NP and the mCIM/eCIM tests, respectively. Conclusion Detection of the 11,109 Da peak by Vitek MS confirms the presence of KPC-type carbapenemase, allowing rapid and simultaneous detection with species identification; a negative result does not rule out the presence of the enzyme and may require additional tests.

Source: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

DOI: 10.1007/s10096-025-05097-6

Authors: Aleyda M. Montaño, Carlos Robledo, Julián C. Galvis-Ayala, J. Natalia Jimenez, Romain Brunel, Jaime Robledo

Institutions: Universidad de Antioquia, Clínica El Rosario, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing

Subfield: Clinical Biochemistry

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,890