Retrospective Data Insight into the Global Distribution of Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study aimed to determine the global distribution and molecular characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. A total of 328 (11.1%, 328/2953) carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates from humans were obtained from public databases as of October 2019. Of which, the bla(VIM) and bla(IMP) genes were the most prevalent carbapenemases in the P. aeruginosa isolates. These carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates possessed 34 distinct sequence types (STs) and six predominated: ST357, ST823, ST308, ST233, ST175 and ST111. The ST357 and ST823 isolates were primarily found detected in Asia and all ST175 isolates were found in Europe. The ST308, ST233 and ST111 isolates were spread worldwide. Further, all ST823 isolates and the majority of ST111, ST233 and ST175 isolates carried bla(VIM) but ST357 isolates primarily carried bla(IMP). ST308 isolates provide a key reservoir for the spread of bla(VIM), bla(IMP) and bla(NDM). WGS analysis revealed that ST111 carried a great diversity of ARG types (n = 23), followed by ST357 (n = 21), ST308 (n = 19), ST233 (n = 18), ST175 (n = 14) and ST823 (n = 10). The ST175 isolates carried a more diversity and frequent of aminoglycoside ARGs, and ST233 isolates harbored more tetracycline ARGs. Our findings revealed that different carbapenem resistance genes were distributed primarily in variant STs of P. aeruginosa isolates, these isolates also possessed an extensive geographical distribution that highlights the need for surveillance studies that detect carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates in humans.

Automated summary

This study investigated the global distribution and molecular characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, revealing different carbapenem resistance genes were primarily distributed in variant STs of P. aeruginosa isolates with extensive geographical distribution. ST308 isolates served as a key reservoir for spreading bla(VIM), bla(IMP) and bla(NDM) genes.