Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 harboring blaNDM-1, multidrug resistance and hypervirulence plasmids
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Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Microbiology Spectrum
Abstract
The spread of hypervirulent (hv) and carbapenem-/multidrug-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an emerging problem in healthcare settings. The New Delhi
metallo-β-lactamase-1 (blaNDM-1) is found in Enterobacteriaceae including K. pneumo niae. The blaNDM-1 is capable of hydrolyzing β-lactam antibiotics which are used for
treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
This is associated with the unacceptably high mortality rate in immunocompromised
burn injury patients. This study reports on the characterization of blaNDM-1 gene and
virulence factors in hv carbapenem-/multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae ST147 in the
burns unit of a tertiary teaching hospital during routine surveillance. Two K. pneumoniae
strains were obtained from wounds of burn-infected patients from May 2020 to July
2021. The hypervirulence genes and genetic context of the blaNDM-1 gene and mobile
genetic elements potentially involved in the transposition of the gene were analyzed.
We identified a conserved genetic background and an IS26 and open reading frame
flanking the blaNDM-1 gene that could suggest its involvement in the mobilization of
the gene. The plasmid harbored additional antibiotic resistance predicted regions that
were responsible for resistance to almost all the routinely used antibiotics. To ensure
the identification of potential outbreak strains during routine surveillance, investigations
on resistance genes and their environment in relation to evolution are necessary for
molecular epidemiology.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Klebsiella pneumoniae, multidrug resistance, mobile genetic elements