Ann Lab Med.  2023 Mar;43(2):196-199. 10.3343/alm.2023.43.2.196.

Emergence of NDM-1–producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sequence Type 773 Clone: Shift of Carbapenemase Molecular Epidemiology and Spread of 16S rRNA Methylase Genes in Korea

• Choi YJ
• Kim YA
• Kim J
• Jeong SH
• Shin JH
• Shin KS
• Shin JH
• Kim YR
• Kim HS
• Uh Y
• Ryoo NH

• KMID: 2551697
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/alm.2023.43.2.196

Abstract

Imipenemase (IMP)-6–producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa sequence type (ST) 235 is a dominant clone of carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa (CPPAE) in Korea. As part of the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System in Korea, we found an increase in the carbapenem resistance rate of P. aeruginosa isolates from blood cultures and a shift in the molecular epidemiology of CPPAE. A total of 212 non-duplicated P. aeruginosa blood isolates were obtained from nine general hospitals and two nursing homes. Twenty-four isolates were identified as CPPAE. We observed the emergence of the NDM-1 P. aeruginosa ST 773 clone (N=10), mostly from Gyeongsang Province. The IMP-6 ST 235 clone (N=11) was detected in all provinces. CPPAE isolates showed very high resistance rates to amikacin, and all NDM-1 P. aeruginosa strains carried rmtB. This is the first nationwide surveillance of the recently emerged NDM-1–producing P. aeruginosa ST773 clone in Korea. Continuous surveillance is necessary to prevent the infection and transmission of carbapenem- and amikacin-resistant P. aeruginosa in Korea.

Keyword

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Molecular Epidemiology; β-lactamase NDM-1; Sequence type 773; Amikacin; 16S rRNA methylase gene

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Antimicrobial resistance rates of P. aeruginosa blood isolates (N=212).

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  Fig. 2 Molecular epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (sequence type: carbapenemase genotype). Carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from two nursing homes in Seoul, three general hospitals in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do, one general hospital in Gangwon-do, one general hospital in Jeolla-do, and two general hospitals in Gyeongsang-do. Two isolates with undetermined sequence types were not shown in this map.

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