RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To find out highly effective phenotypic methods to detect carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii complex) so as to support the epidemiological investigation and clinical application. METHODS: We included 113 A. baumannii complex and compared the detection performance of modified Hodge test, Carba NP test, Triton Hodge test, and the simplified Carba NP-direct test with Tritont X-100. RESULTS: We tested 83 carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii complex and 30 non-carbapenemase producers. The sensitivity and specificity of Hodge test were significantly higher than those of Carba NP test (71.1% versus 35.0%, 100% versus 86.7%, P<0.05, respectively). The sensitivity of Triton Hodge test and Carba NP-direct test was respectively significantly higher than Hodge test and Carba NP test (98.8% versus 71.1%, 85.5% versus 35.0%, P<0.001, respectively ). However, the specificities were comparable (P>0.05). The positive additive effects of the two methods with Triton X-100 were more obvious than those of the methods without Triton X-100 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Triton X-100 could increase the sensitivity and positive additive effect on phenotypic detection of A. baumannii complex. Triton Hodge test and Carba NP-direct test were more applicable for clinical routine procedure.