Co-production of Classes A and B Carbapenemases BKC-1 and VIM-2 in a Clinical Pseudomonas Putida Group Isolate from Brazil

Emergence of resistance to classical antimicrobial agents is a public health issue, especially in countries with high antimicrobial consumption rates. Carbapenems have been employed as first-choice option for empirical treatment complicated infections. However, in the last decades, frequency of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria has rising, demanding the use of alternative antimicrobial agents. By sequencing the entire genomes with short and long reads technologies, we report the isolation and genomic characterization of a carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas clinical isolate. The identification based on average nucleotide identity indicates a putative new species into the Pseudomonas putida Group, which carries both the bla(BKC-1) and bla(VIM-2) carbapenemase genes. The bla(BKC-1) was found to be on a transferable IncQ plasmid backbone, whereas bla(VIM-2) was found in a new integron, In2126 (intl1 increment -bla(VIM-2)-aacA7-bla(VIM-2) increment -aacA27-3'CS), described in this study. Our findings indicate that co-occurrence of classes A and B carbapenemase enzymes underscores the evolving emergence of more complex antimicrobial resistance in opportunistic pathogens.

Automated summary

The emergence of resistance to classical antimicrobial agents is a public health issue. This study reports the genomic characterization of a carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas clinical isolate, revealing the presence of a putative new species and the co-occurrence of A and B carbapenemase genes. These findings highlight the evolving emergence of complex antimicrobial resistance in opportunistic pathogens.