ATCC - Leading the Fight Against "Superbugs"
Carbapenem-Resistant Strains
The carbapenems are a class of β-lactam antibiotics commonly used as a last resort treatment against drug-resistant infections. In recent decades, there have been growing concerns regarding the emergence of carbapenem-resistance among bacteria, particularly among species within the Enterobacteriaceae family.
To support the research against these superbugs, ATCC has acquired a number of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) strains from various clinical sources. Each strain was confirmed to carry either the blaKPC or blaNDM gene, conferring resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. Moreover, a number of these strains exhibit multidrug-resistance to as many as 36 representative antibiotics, making them ideal tools for the development, verification, and evaluation of:
- Rapid detection methods
- Innovative therapeutic techniques
- Novel antibiotics
- Updated sterility protocols
Here, we provide a list of recognized carbapenemases and their known bacterial carriers. Please use the links below to view a complete listing of available CRE strains from ATCC. For more information on multidrug-resistance, please visit our Multidrug-Resistant Reference Strains page.
| Carbapenemase |
Ambler Class |
Known Bacterial Carriers |
| GES |
A |
K. pneumoniae, E. coli, P. aeruginosa |
| IMI |
A |
E. cloacae |
| KPC |
A |
K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Enterobacter spp. |
| NMC |
A |
E. cloacae |
| SME |
A |
S. marcescens |
| GIM |
B |
E. cloacae |
| IMP |
B |
P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens, B. fragilis, A. baumannii |
| NDM |
B |
E. coli, K. pneumoniae, E. cloacae |
| SIM |
B |
P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii |
| SPM |
B |
P. aeruginosa |
| VIM |
B |
P. aeruginosa |
| OXA |
D |
K. pneumoniae, E. coli, Acinetobacter spp., P. aeruginosa, Providencia rettgeri |