Rapid Identification of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Combined with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Background

Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae is an unprecedented threat to public health, and its detection remains challenging. Analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may offer a rapid way to determine bacterial antibiotic susceptibility.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the VOCs released by carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) using headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS).

Methods

Test bacteria were incubated in trypticase soy broth to the end of exponential growth phase, and imipenem was added in the middle time. Headspace VOCs were concentrated and analyzed using HS-SPME/GC-MS.

Results

The compound 3-methyl-1-butanol was found to be a biomarker among the 26 bacterial isolates (10 KPC-positive, 10 NDM-positive, 2 IMP-positive, 2 carbapenemase-negative CRKP, and 2 carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumonoiae).

Conclusion

This study explored a promising new strategy for the screening of carbapenemase-producing CRKP strains. Further research with larger sample sizes will potentially accelerate the application of biomarkers in routine microbiology.

Keywords:

• carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae
• volatile organic compounds
• headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

View correction statement:

Rapid Identification of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae Using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Combined with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry [Corrigendum]

Abbreviations

VOCs, volatile organic compounds; HS-SPME/GC-MS, Headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; CRKP, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae; CSKP, carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumonoiae; KPC, Klebsiella pneunominae carbapenemase; NDM, New Dehli metallo-β-lactamase; OXA, oxacillinase; IMP, imipenemase; RT, retention time; EIC, extracted ion chromatogram.

Ethics Statement

As the Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolation in this study was the routine hospital laboratory procedure, we have confirmed that the isolation has no identifiable patient data, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Medical Research Ethics Committee exempted this research for review.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91200316), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (No. 20202BAB216021), the Health Commission of Jiangxi Province (No. 20201034).