Rapid detection and quantification of plasmid‐mediated colistin resistance genes ( <i>mcr‐1</i> to <i>mcr‐5</i> ) by real‐time PCR in bacterial and environmental samples

Abstract

Colistin is an antimicrobial commonly used in animals and has recently emerged as a last-resort treatment in humans. Plasmid-mediated mcr genes confer resistance to colistin and represent a major threat for public health since they can be easily disseminated through horizontal gene transfer. The rapid and sensitive detection of mcr genes is of utmost necessity.