Genomic insights into -positive carbapenem-resistant in China.

Carbapenem-resistant (CRPA) poses a global threat; however, the epidemiological characteristics and clinical significance of -positive CRPA strains in China remain unclear. In this study, continuous surveillance was conducted from 2018 to 2022 in a hospital in Henan Province, China, and the genomic characteristics of -positive CRPA were elucidated. We characterised the genetic features of -positive CRPA isolates by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation assays, whole-genome sequencing, large-scale comparative genomics, and bioinformatic analyses. Among 628 CRPA isolates, one -positive multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain, PA19-3158 (ST1123), was identified, with the gene located on a novel 518,222 bp megaplasmid. Additionally, big data analysis revealed the genomic characteristics of -positive CRPA across China. A total of three different gene variants were identified among these isolates, namely (44.12%), (52.94%), and (2.94%). Our findings identified ST463 as the dominant clone among -positive CRPA in different regions of China, with some -positive CRPA isolates from these regions exhibiting high genetic similarity. Notably, all -positive CRPA isolates carried multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), with approximately 38% co-harboring the carbapenem-resistant gene and approximately 47% co-harboring the tigecycline-resistant gene . Correlation analysis underscored the significant role of mobile genetic elements in facilitating gene transfer. These results highlight the critical need for continuous surveillance of -positive CRPA in clinical settings to mitigate potential risks.