Molecular Epidemiology of Endemic Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in an Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

The molecular epidemiology of endemic carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CRKP), carbapenem-resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (CRPA), and carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (CRAB) in an intensive care unit located in an endemic area with high rates of resistance was investigated. A CRPA strain producing VIM and KPC concurrently was detected for the first time in an endemic area. CRKP strains producing <i>K. pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase predominated and were mainly assigned to the "hyperepidemic Greek clone." Predominant OXA-23-like producing CRAB strains were assigned to multiple pulsotypes.