CHROMagar™ KPC Kit

For Detection of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteria (CRE)

CHROMagar™ KPC is a selective and differential chromogenic culture medium designed for the detection of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), including strains producing KPC, OXA, NDM-1, and other carbapenemase enzymes. The medium enables the direct identification of gastrointestinal colonization by CRE from rectal swabs or stool samples and facilitates early infection control measures through rapid results within 18–24 hours.

With distinct colony colorations for major CRE species and no need for pre-enrichment, CHROMagar™ KPC is a critical tool in the surveillance, screening, and containment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms in healthcare environments.

🔹 Key Features & Benefits

• ✅ Rapid Detection: CRE strains are detectable after overnight incubation (18–24 h) at 35–37 °C.
• ✅ Direct Testing: No selective pre-enrichment required—plate directly from stool or rectal swabs.
• ✅ High Specificity for Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms: Optimized to detect Enterobacteriaceae with resistance mechanisms such as KPC, OXA-48, NDM-1, VIM, IMP, etc.
• ✅ Differentiation by Color:

  Organism	Colony Appearance
  CRE E. coli	Dark pink to reddish
  CRE Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter	Metallic blue ± red halo
  CRE Pseudomonas spp.	Translucent cream to blue
  CRE Acinetobacter spp.	Cream, opaque

• ✅ Long Shelf Life: More than 18 months of stability, ideal for both outbreak response and routine CRE surveillance programs.

🔹 Intended Use

CHROMagar™ KPC is intended for:

• Qualitative detection of gastrointestinal colonization by CRE using:
  • Rectal swabs
  • Stool samples
• Screening high-risk patients (e.g., ICU, transplant, oncology units)
• Early warning indicator for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing bacteria

⚠️ Not intended to diagnose CRE infection or guide treatment. Positive colonies require further identification, AST, and molecular characterization.

🔹 Clinical & Public Health Relevance

Carbapenems are last-resort antibiotics for serious Gram-negative infections. The emergence and global spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, especially those producing KPC, NDM, and OXA-type enzymes, represent a major threat to global health. These organisms often show resistance to:

• Penicillins
• Third-generation cephalosporins
• Monobactams
• Carbapenems

📌 CDC 2008-R-24: “KPC-producing bacteria have demonstrated a remarkable ability to disseminate with interfacility, interstate, and international transmission.”

Early detection is crucial to contain CRE and prevent outbreaks.

🔹 Test Procedure

1. Sample Type: Rectal swabs, stool specimens
2. Inoculation: Direct plating onto CHROMagar™ KPC
3. Incubation:
   • Temperature: 35–37 °C
   • Time: 18–24 hours
   • Atmosphere: Aerobic
4. Interpretation: Identify presumptive CRE colonies by species-specific coloration

🔹 Ordering Information

🔹 Storage & Shelf Life

• Storage: 2–8 °C, dry and sealed
• Shelf Life: Up to 18–24 months from manufacture
• Prepared Plates: Use within recommended period in the instructions

🔹 Scientific Publications

• Samatha et al., 2023 – Comparative phenotypic detection of CRE Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Moubareck et al., 2019 – CHROMagar™ KPC vs. Xpert Carba-R in UAE hospitals
• Randall et al., 2017 – CRE detection in food samples across UK retail environments

CHROMagar™ KPC offers a fast, reliable, and visually interpretable solution for detecting carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae directly from primary specimens. With high selectivity, species differentiation, and operational simplicity, it is a critical component of infection control programs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in clinical and public health laboratories worldwide.