First evidence of KPC-producing ST258 Klebsiella pneumoniae in river water

J Hosp Infect. 2019 Oct;103(2):147-150. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.04.001. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Abstract

This paper reports the first case of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2-producing K. pneumoniae in river water in Croatia. In total, four KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were analysed. All isolates shared a similar genetic background, belonging to ST258. Isolates displayed uniform, multi-drug-resistant profiles susceptible to colistin. blaSHV-1, aac(3')-II, aac(6')-Ib and aph(3')-Ia genes were detected in all isolates. In all isolates, the blaKPC-2 gene was localized on a single non-conjugative IncFII plasmid that varied in size (∼140, ∼230, ∼225 and ∼220 kb). K. pneumoniae was viable in river water for up to 50 days, confirming its ability to survive and disseminate in the environment.

Keywords: Environment; IncFII; KPC-2-producing; Klebsiella pneumoniae; River water; ST258.

MeSH terms

  • Croatia
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genotype
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / classification
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / enzymology*
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / genetics
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Typing
  • Plasmids / analysis
  • Rivers / microbiology*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics*

Substances

  • beta-Lactamases
  • beta-lactamase KPC-2, Klebsiella pneumoniae