Genetic Characterization of Co-Harboring and Causing Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.

PURPOSE

With the spread of multiple drug-resistant bacteria, and have been detected in various bacteria worldwide. However, the simultaneous detection of and in has been rarely reported. This study identified an strain carrying both and . We investigated the genetic characteristics of these two resistance genes in detail, elucidating various potential mechanisms by which they may be transmitted.

METHODS

Bacterial genomic features and possible origins were assessed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) with Illumina and PacBio platforms and phylogenetic analysis. Subsequent investigations were performed, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).

RESULTS

We isolated an strain DY1901 carrying both and from the sputum sample. Susceptibility testing showed that the isolate was multidrug-resistant. Multiple antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes are widely distributed in DY1901. S1-PFGE, Southern blotting, and plasmid replicon typing showed that DY1901 carried four plasmids. The plasmid carrying was 259Kb in size and belonged to IncHI2, while the plasmid carrying was 45Kb in length and belonged to IncX3.

CONCLUSION

The strain isolated in this study has a broad antibiotic resistance spectrum, posing a challenge to clinical treatment. Plasmids carrying are fusion plasmids, and those taking NDM are widely disseminated in China, suggesting that we should conduct routine genomic surveillance on such plasmids to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria in the region.