Rapid diagnostic testing method to detect ROB β-lactamase gene in Neisseria meningitidis

Andrew Peifer; Anna Kidney; Geetha Nattanmai; Kate Wahl; Sherly Jose; Elizabeth Owuor; Linnell Randall; Erin Klingbeil; Kimberlee A Musser; Kara Mitchell

doi:10.1016/j.mcp.2024.102000

Rapid diagnostic testing method to detect ROB β-lactamase gene in Neisseria meningitidis

Mol Cell Probes. 2024 Dec 19:79:102000. doi: 10.1016/j.mcp.2024.102000. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, PO Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA. Electronic address: andrew.peifer@health.ny.gov.
² Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, PO Box 22002, Albany, NY, 12201-2002, USA.

PMID: 39674520
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2024.102000

Abstract

bla_ROB-1 is the only widely found β-lactamase in Neisseria meningitidis, and its presence is on the rise. To enhance our bacterial meningitis testing procedure, we clinically validated a real-time PCR assay to rapidly detect the bla_ROB gene and predict drug resistance in Neisseria meningitidis. A screen of 101 clinical isolates and 37 clinical specimens of blood and cerebrospinal fluid received between January 2018 and June 2024 found 8 isolates and 2 cerebrospinal fluid specimens that were positive for bla_ROB.

Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis; Real-time PCR; bla(ROB); β-lactamase.