Emergence of carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae and nonfermentative bacteria poses a serious therapeutic problem in hospitals because carbapenems are often antibiotics of last resort for the treatment of serious infections caused by multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria. Acquired carbapenemases belong to group A (IMI, NMC, SME GES, and KPC), group B (metallo-β-lactamases of VIM, IMP, GIM, NDM, SIM, and DIM series), and group D (carbapenem hydrolyzing oxacillinases). β-Lactamase-mediated resistance to carbapenems has been reported in Enterobacteriacea mostly due to the expression of class A KPC β-lactamases susceptible to the inhibition by clavulanic acid, class B metallo-β-lactamases (IMP or VIM), or OXA-48 β-lactamase belonging to class D β-lactamases. Furthermore, carbapenem resistance can be mediated by hyperproduction of ESBLs or plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases combined with porin loss. Carbapenemases found in Acinetobacter belong to molecular class D (OXA enzymes) or class B (metallo-β-lactamases of IMP, VIM, or SIM family). Accurate and fast laboratory identification of carbapenemases is important to prevent therapeutic failures and nosocimal outbreaks.

We particularly take an interest in manuscripts that report relevance of carbapenemases in clinical and laboratory practice. Manuscripts that summarize the results of laboratory characterization of carbapenemases in different gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii
• Mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii
• Laboratory characterization of carbapenemases
• Clinical impact of carbapenem resistance

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/bmri/microbiology/gnb/ according to the following timetable: