AUTHOR=Wang Lei , Sun Dunpo , Chen Li , Zhou Ping , Wang Kun , Wang Fang , Lei Xingqi , Wang Yan , Lu Yingzhi , Huang Guanhong , Gao Xuzhu 

TITLE=Development and Clinical Application of a Recombinase Polymerase Amplification-Lateral Flow Strip Assay for Detection of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.876552

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.876552

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Acinetobacter baumannii</italic> is a worldwide, primary cause of respiratory tract infections, septicemia, urinary apparatus infections, and secondary meningitis. It can be fatal. Rapid and accurate detection methods are needed to control the spread of carbapenem-resistant <italic>A. baumannii</italic> (CRAB). Current molecular diagnostic methods are limited and not suitable for on-site detection. In this study, an isothermal detection method using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with a lateral flow strip (LFS) was developed to target the <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA-51</sub> and <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA-23</sub> genes of <italic>A</italic>. <italic>baumannii</italic>. The reaction was completed in about 40 min at 37°C. This method can also effectively distinguish <italic>A. baumannii</italic> and CRAB. The limit of detection of 10<sup>0</sup>-10<sup>1</sup> CFU/reaction was equal to that of other detection methods. The detection accuracy was equal to that of the qPCR method with the use of clinical samples. The RPA-LFS assay is portable, rapid, and accurate and could replace existing detection methods for on-site detection of <italic>A</italic>. <italic>baumannii</italic> and CRAB.</p>