title: VIM-1 Metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in Greek hospitals.
abstract: Seventeen Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates carrying the bla(VIM-1) metallo-beta-lactamase gene were collected in the intensive care units of three hospitals in Athens, Greece, in 2002. They exhibited various carbapenem resistance levels (Etest MICs of imipenem ranged from 4 to 32 microg/ml). All isolates gave positive results by the imipenem-EDTA synergy Etest. The isolates were classified into four main types by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; the majority of the isolates (5 and 10 isolates) belonged to two types. The bla(VIM-1) gene cassette was part of the variable region of a class 1 integron that also included aac6, dhfrI, and aadA. This structure was carried by transferable plasmids.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Microbiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giakkoupi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xanthaki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanelopoulou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vlahaki
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miriagou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kontou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papafraggas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malamou-Lada
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tzouvelekis
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Legakis
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vatopoulos
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006115:Greece; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; C417264:VIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase; D001618:beta-Lactamases