title: Outbreaks in distinct regions due to a single Klebsiella pneumoniae clone carrying a bla VIM-1 metallo-{beta}-lactamase gene.
abstract: From December 2004 to March 2005, 27 Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates that were positive by the imipenem-EDTA double-disk synergy test and that exhibited a single macro-restriction pattern were recovered in two distinct Greek hospitals. The isolates carried a transferable bla(VIM-1) metallo-beta-lactamase gene in a class 1 integron. Reverse transcriptase PCR showed that the gene was similarly expressed in low- and high-level carbapenem-resistant isolates, indicating the existence of additional resistance mechanisms. The clonal spread of VIM-1-producing K. pneumoniae strains in distinct regions where up to now bla(VIM-2) and bla(VIM-4) alleles were common is worrisome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University Hospital of Thessaly, Mezourlo, 411 10 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ikonomidis
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tokatlidou
authors.forename: Ioulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kristo
authors.forename: Danai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sofianou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakris
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mantzana
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pournaras
authors.forename: Antonios N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Maniatis
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; C417264:VIM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase; D001618:beta-Lactamases