We have investigated the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing uropathogens at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. From 64 unique urine samples collected between January and March 2020, only 2 closely related Klebsiella pneumoniae (ST11, 14 SNPs of difference; no clear epidemiological links found between patients) were carbapenemase-producers. By whole-genome sequencing (WGS), blaNDM-5 was found on ~46 kb, IncX3 plasmid. These findings highlight the necessity for continuous surveillance of these pathogens in Jamaica. IMPORTANCE As the problem of antibiotic resistance continues to be a global problem, we hope to be able to shed further insight into what is happening within the Caribbean, from which there has been a paucity of data. The ability to appropriately tackle the problem of resistance requires surveillance from all territories, including resource limited settings. In this paper, we look at a mechanism of resistance that renders some critical antibiotics useless, including carbapenems, cephalosporins, and penicillin.
Keywords: Jamaica; NDM; UTI; antimicrobial resistance; carbapenemase; urinary tract infection.