Vitek 2 ast 211 cards

The antimicrobial susceptibility tests were determined using Vitek 2 AST 211 cards (bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France) and interpreted using the VITEK 2 identification systems (CLSI, 2018). Antimicrobials used for the test included aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin), cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cefepime), cephamycins(cefoxitin), fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin), folate pathway inhibitors (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), glycylcyclines (tigecycline), monobactams (aztreonam), and penicillin + β lactamase inhibitors (ampicillin-sulbactam, piperacillin-tazobactam). Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria were defined as acquired non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories (Magiorakos et al., 2012 (link)).

All laboratory tests were performed consistent with routine clinical practice. For cultures, all samples were inoculated onto blood agar and MacConkey agar plates in a 35 °C incubator for 16 to 24 h. The BacT/Alert 3D system (bioMérieux, Durham, NC, USA) was used for blood cultures. The isolated bacteria were identified using a VitekMS system (BioMérieux, Hazelwood, MI, USA) and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using Vitek 2 AST 211 cards (BioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France) and interpreted using the VITEK 2 identification system [20 ]. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect K1 and K2 capsular serotypes and virulence genes. Primer sets for magA (wzy-like polymerase specific to K1 capsular serotype), wzi (the gene specifying the K2 capsular serotype), and other virulence genes (ybtS, entB, allS, kfu, iutA, mrkD, and rmpA) have been described previously [21 (link)]. hvKP is considered detected when both rmpA and iutA genes are positive [13 ].

All laboratory tests were performed during routine clinical practice. The BacT/Alert 3D system (bioMérieux, Durham, NC, USA) was used for blood cultures, and all samples were inoculated into blood and MacConkey agar plates in a 5% CO₂ incubator from 16 to 24 h at 35 °C. The microorganisms were identified using the VitekMS system (BioMérieux, Hazelwood, MI, USA), and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using Vitek2 AST 211 cards (BioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France) and interpreted using the VITEK2 identification systems [16 ]. We performed multiplex PCR to detect K1 and K2 capsular serotypes and virulence genes. Primer sets for magA (wzy-like polymerase specific to K1 capsular serotype), wzi (the gene specifying the K2 capsular serotype), and other virulence genes (ybtS, entB, allS, kfu, iutA, mrkD, and rmpA) have been described previously [17 (link)].