Performance
ESBL (Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases) are enzymes that mediate resistance to penicillins, extended-spectrum third generation cephalosporins (C3G) and monobactams. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae started to appear in the 1980s, and have since emerged as some of the most significant hospital-acquired infections with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. being the main actors, but other Gram-negative species have also been observed. Emergence of ESBL-producing isolates has important clinical and therapeutic implications:
- Resistance determinants for ESBL production are carried on plasmids that can be easily spread from organism to organism.
- The spread of resistance toward extended-spectrum cephalosporins may lead to increased prescription of more broad-spectrum and expensive drugs.
- These resistant isolates may escape detection with routine susceptibility testing performed by a clinical microbiology laboratory, which can result in adverse therapeutic outcomes.
Therefore, the early detection of ESBL-producing bacteria carriers is important to minimise their impact and the spread of infections and customise therapeutic patient treatment.
CHROMagar™ ESBL allows the detection of ESBL-producing bacteria while inhibiting the growth of other bacteria, including most of those carrying AmpC type resistance. This is an important feature because intrinsic AmpC resistance has less epidemic relevance, but often leads to ESBL false positive reading in the classical testing methods.
Intended Use :
CHROMagar™ ESBL is a selective and differential chromogenic culture medium, intended for use in the qualitative direct detection of gastrointestinal colonization with Extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-resistant Enterobacteria (ESBL) to aid in the prevention and control of ESBL in healthcare settings. The test is performed with rectal swab and stools from patients to screen for ESBL colonization. Results can be interpreted after 18-24 h of aerobic incubation at 35-37 °C.
