Rapid cross-border emergence of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli in the European Union/European Economic Area, 2012 to June 2022

Abstract

Whole genome sequencing data of 874 <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolates carrying <i>bla</i> _NDM-5 from 13 European Union/European Economic Area countries between 2012 and June 2022 showed the predominance of sequence types ST167, ST405, ST410, ST361 and ST648, and an increasing frequency of detection. Nearly a third (30.6%) of these isolates were associated with infections and more than half (58.2%) were predicted to be multidrug-resistant. Further spread of <i>E. coli</i> carrying <i>bla</i> _NDM-5 would leave limited treatment options for serious <i>E. coli</i> infections.