Transfer of Carbapenem-Resistant Plasmid
Author Information
Author(s): Goren Moran G., Carmeli Yehuda, Schwaber Mitchell J., Chmelnitsky Inna, Schechner Vered, Navon-Venezia Shiri
Primary Institution: Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Hypothesis
We aimed to investigate the origin of KPC-3 in this E. coli isolate and to explore a possible molecular and epidemiologic link between the presence of blaKPC-3 in this species and in the KpnST258 strain prevalent in our hospital.
Conclusion
The study suggests that interspecies transfer of drug-resistance determinants from Klebsiella pneumoniae to Escherichia coli may have severe public health consequences.
Supporting Evidence
- The KPC-3 plasmid was identical in isolates of both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
- The patient's gut flora contained a carbapenem-susceptible E. coli strain isogenic with the KPC-3–producing isolate.
- Transformation of plasmids from Eco2 into an E. coli recipient strain indicated transfer of a single plasmid that encoded resistance.
Takeaway
Doctors found a way that a superbug can share its resistance to antibiotics with another type of bacteria, which can make it harder to treat infections.
Methodology
Microbiologic and molecular investigations including pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, DNA isolation, PCR detection of resistance genes, and plasmid isolation were performed.
Limitations
The study is based on a single patient case, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The patient was a 91-year-old man with multiple health issues including end-stage renal disease and congestive heart failure.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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