Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs)

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Carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs)

Carbapenemase-producing organisms have genes that allow them to produce carbapenemase. Carbapenemase is an enzyme that defeats many types of antibiotics. CPOs are dangerous because they are mobile and can share these genes with other organisms. The Big 5 genes of importance to the CDC are:

  • VIM
  • IMP
  • NDM
  • KPC
  • OXA-48

The list above is not all the carbapenemase genes of interest. In Utah, it is also common to see OXA-23 and OXA-235 genes which are still important.