Objectives: Carbapenems are one of the last-report therapeutic choices to treat infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) micro-organisms. For this reason, the spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae represents a serious health-public problem. Here we describe isolates co-producing blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-1.
Methods: Three Escherichia coli isolates obtained from patients with invasive infections were analysed by phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS).
Results: All of the isolates were resistant to carbapenems, most β-lactam antibiotics, piperacillin/tazobactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin, remaining susceptible to amikacin, fosfomycin, colistin and tigecycline. The isolates belonged to sequence types ST44, ST405 and ST167 and co-harboured the blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-1 genes. Two of the isolates also harboured extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes (blaCTX-M-15 and blaTEM-1b). The blaNDM-5 gene was probably carried chromosomally even if different plasmids were identified. Various virulence genes were also identified.
Conclusion: Our results highlight that continuous surveillance is essential to monitor the spread of clinically important MDR pathogens.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Carbapenem resistance; WGS; Whole-genome sequencing; β-Lactamase.
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