Carbapenem Resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains from India: Evidence for Nationwide Endemicity of Multiple Metallo-β-Lactamase Clones (VIM-2,-5,-6, and-11 and the Newly Characterized VIM-18)

Among 57 metallo-beta-lactamase (M beta L)-producing Pseudomonas spp. detected in India during 2006, five bla(VIM) genes were found, including a newly characterized bla(VIM) gene. Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were clustered in 33 ribotypes with clones found in multiple hospitals. Several types of bla(VIM-2)-carrying integrons were detected. The newly characterized variant VIM-18 showed a 4-amino-acid deletion compared to other VIM variants. In this study, we show that VIM-producing Pseudomonas spp. were highly prevalent in India with a great diversity of bla(VIM) types and M beta L-carrying integrons.