Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas asiatica Producing NDM-1 and VIM-2 Metallo-β-Lactamases in Myanmar

Abstract

Pseudomonas asiatica is a recently proposed species of the genus Pseudomonas This study describes eight isolates of carbapenem-resistant P. asiatica harboring bla_NDM-1 and bla_VIM-2, genes encoding metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). These isolates were obtained from urine samples of patients hospitalized in Myanmar. These isolates were resistant to carbapenems but susceptible to colistin. All eight isolates were positive for a carbapenemase inactivation method, CIMTrisII, and seven were positive on an immunochromatographic assay for NDM-type MBL. One isolate was highly resistant to aminoglycosides. Whole-genome sequencing showed that seven isolates harbored bla_NDM-1 and one harbored bla_VIM-2, with these genes located on the chromosome. One isolate harbored bla_NDM-1 and rmtC, a gene encoding 16S rRNA methylase. Five types of genomic environments surrounding bla_NDM-1 and bla_VIM-2 were detected in these eight isolates, with four isolates having the same type. These data indicate that P. asiatica isolates harboring genes encoding carbapenemases, including bla_NDM-1 and bla_VIM-2, are spreading in medical settings in Myanmar.

Keywords: NDM-1 metallo-β-lactamase; Pseudomonas asiatica; VIM-2 metallo-β-lactamase.