Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights

Abstract Background Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales pose a serious clinical threat, particularly in high-burden settings of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (CREK), where rapid detection tools are essential to aid patient management. In this study, we focused...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Noor Ul Ain, Linzy Elton, Zahra Sadouki, Timothy D. McHugh, Saba Riaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-025-00775-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1825197649552211968
author Noor Ul Ain
Linzy Elton
Zahra Sadouki
Timothy D. McHugh
Saba Riaz
author_facet Noor Ul Ain
Linzy Elton
Zahra Sadouki
Timothy D. McHugh
Saba Riaz
author_sort Noor Ul Ain
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales pose a serious clinical threat, particularly in high-burden settings of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (CREK), where rapid detection tools are essential to aid patient management. In this study, we focused on bla NDM, the most frequently reported carbapenemase in the region, and evaluated a combined phenotypic (lateral flow) and genotypic (PCR and WGS) approach for its detection. This research underscores the utility of lateral flow assays as a practical alternative to resource-intensive genotypic methods, offering a scalable solution for settings with limited laboratory capacity. Method One hundred seventy-seven extensively drug-resistant strains were characterized using MALDI-TOF. Isolates were analyzed to detect Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (CREK) using disk diffusion, MIC test, and PCR targeting bla NDM. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were analyzed and visualized using single-linkage hierarchical clustering, with results displayed on a permuted heat map. Immunochromatographic assay, RESIST-5 O.K.N.V.I (Coris Bioconcept®) was used for CREK isolates [(n = 17), positive and negative)] and Oxford Nanopore Sequencing was conducted on subsets [(n = 5) bla NDM-positive co-producers of bla NDM and bla OXA, and (n = 2) bla NDM-negative bla OXA producers) to evaluate the reliability of phenotypic and genotypic tests. Result Most of the XDR strains (90%) were CREK, with K. pneumoniae (71.2%) more prevalent than E. coli (28.7%) (p < 0.05). All CREK strains exhibited complete resistance (100%) to multiple antibiotics with 66% showing sensitivity to levofloxacin. Furthermore, K. pneumoniae (57.8%) had higher bla NDM gene prevalence than E. coli (36.9%). Among bla NDM-positive CREK, lateral flow assay revealed approximately half of each bacteria type co-produced bla OXA (E.coli, 52.9%), and (K. pneumoniae, 47%). For bla NDM-negative strains, bla OXA was more prevalent in K. pneumoniae (82.35%) than E. coli (41%) (p < 0.05). Comparing phenotypic to genotypic assays, E. coli showed 100% (CI 80.49 − 100%) sensitivity and specificity with a high Kappa agreement coefficient (0.91) (CI 95% 0.661–1, p < 0.01), whereas K. pneumoniae assays had lower sensitivity and specificity (40%) (CI 5.27 − 85.34%), with a lower Kappa agreement coefficient (0.20) (CI 95% 0.104–0.298, p < 0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of the RESIST-5 O.K.N.V.I. lateral flow assay as a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting bla NDM in Escherichia coli, with strong agreement to PCR and WGS. While performance for Klebsiella pneumoniae was lower, the assay offers a practical alternative in resource-limited settings, aiding antimicrobial stewardship and improving diagnostic capacities in high-burden regions.
format Article
id doaj-art-9e2e06b41133442dbefa670720b0dcef
institution Kabale University
issn 1476-0711
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
spelling doaj-art-9e2e06b41133442dbefa670720b0dcef2025-02-09T12:16:44ZengBMCAnnals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials1476-07112025-02-0124111210.1186/s12941-025-00775-xExploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insightsNoor Ul Ain0Linzy Elton1Zahra Sadouki2Timothy D. McHugh3Saba Riaz4Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the PunjabCentre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonCentre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonCentre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonInstitute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the PunjabAbstract Background Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales pose a serious clinical threat, particularly in high-burden settings of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (CREK), where rapid detection tools are essential to aid patient management. In this study, we focused on bla NDM, the most frequently reported carbapenemase in the region, and evaluated a combined phenotypic (lateral flow) and genotypic (PCR and WGS) approach for its detection. This research underscores the utility of lateral flow assays as a practical alternative to resource-intensive genotypic methods, offering a scalable solution for settings with limited laboratory capacity. Method One hundred seventy-seven extensively drug-resistant strains were characterized using MALDI-TOF. Isolates were analyzed to detect Carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (CREK) using disk diffusion, MIC test, and PCR targeting bla NDM. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were analyzed and visualized using single-linkage hierarchical clustering, with results displayed on a permuted heat map. Immunochromatographic assay, RESIST-5 O.K.N.V.I (Coris Bioconcept®) was used for CREK isolates [(n = 17), positive and negative)] and Oxford Nanopore Sequencing was conducted on subsets [(n = 5) bla NDM-positive co-producers of bla NDM and bla OXA, and (n = 2) bla NDM-negative bla OXA producers) to evaluate the reliability of phenotypic and genotypic tests. Result Most of the XDR strains (90%) were CREK, with K. pneumoniae (71.2%) more prevalent than E. coli (28.7%) (p < 0.05). All CREK strains exhibited complete resistance (100%) to multiple antibiotics with 66% showing sensitivity to levofloxacin. Furthermore, K. pneumoniae (57.8%) had higher bla NDM gene prevalence than E. coli (36.9%). Among bla NDM-positive CREK, lateral flow assay revealed approximately half of each bacteria type co-produced bla OXA (E.coli, 52.9%), and (K. pneumoniae, 47%). For bla NDM-negative strains, bla OXA was more prevalent in K. pneumoniae (82.35%) than E. coli (41%) (p < 0.05). Comparing phenotypic to genotypic assays, E. coli showed 100% (CI 80.49 − 100%) sensitivity and specificity with a high Kappa agreement coefficient (0.91) (CI 95% 0.661–1, p < 0.01), whereas K. pneumoniae assays had lower sensitivity and specificity (40%) (CI 5.27 − 85.34%), with a lower Kappa agreement coefficient (0.20) (CI 95% 0.104–0.298, p < 0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of the RESIST-5 O.K.N.V.I. lateral flow assay as a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for detecting bla NDM in Escherichia coli, with strong agreement to PCR and WGS. While performance for Klebsiella pneumoniae was lower, the assay offers a practical alternative in resource-limited settings, aiding antimicrobial stewardship and improving diagnostic capacities in high-burden regions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-025-00775-xAntimicrobial resistanceCarbapenem resistanceCarbapenemases extensive drug resistanceLateral flow assayGenotypicPhenotypic resistance
spellingShingle Noor Ul Ain
Linzy Elton
Zahra Sadouki
Timothy D. McHugh
Saba Riaz
Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
Antimicrobial resistance
Carbapenem resistance
Carbapenemases extensive drug resistance
Lateral flow assay
Genotypic
Phenotypic resistance
title Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
title_full Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
title_fullStr Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
title_full_unstemmed Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
title_short Exploring New Delhi Metallo Beta Lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: genotypic vs. phenotypic insights
title_sort exploring new delhi metallo beta lactamases in klebsiella pneumoniae and escherichia coli genotypic vs phenotypic insights
topic Antimicrobial resistance
Carbapenem resistance
Carbapenemases extensive drug resistance
Lateral flow assay
Genotypic
Phenotypic resistance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-025-00775-x
work_keys_str_mv AT noorulain exploringnewdelhimetallobetalactamasesinklebsiellapneumoniaeandescherichiacoligenotypicvsphenotypicinsights
AT linzyelton exploringnewdelhimetallobetalactamasesinklebsiellapneumoniaeandescherichiacoligenotypicvsphenotypicinsights
AT zahrasadouki exploringnewdelhimetallobetalactamasesinklebsiellapneumoniaeandescherichiacoligenotypicvsphenotypicinsights
AT timothydmchugh exploringnewdelhimetallobetalactamasesinklebsiellapneumoniaeandescherichiacoligenotypicvsphenotypicinsights
AT sabariaz exploringnewdelhimetallobetalactamasesinklebsiellapneumoniaeandescherichiacoligenotypicvsphenotypicinsights