Rapid detection of NDM and VIM carbapenemase encoding genes by recombinase polymerase amplification and lateral flow-based detection.

Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) pose a serious clinical threat and rapid detection tools are essential to aid in patient management. We developed rapid and simple molecular tests to detect bla and bla carbapenemase genes using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a lateral flow detection. The tests could provide results in approximately 15 min when using DNA extracts, with limits of detection of 9.2 copies/μl for the bla assay and 7.5 copies/μl for bla assay, and successfully detected all isolates harbouring the carbapenemase encoding genes in a panel of 57 isolates. These RPA tests may be suitable for use in low-resource settings to tailor rapid implementation of infection control precautions and antibiotic stewardship.