title: Nosocomial spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates expressing the metallo-beta-lactamase VIM-2 in a hematology unit of a French hospital.
abstract: Dissemination of metallo-beta-lactamases (carbapenemases) was investigated retrospectively among ceftazidimeand imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in a hematology unit in Marseilles, France, from September, 1995, to March, 1999. Sixteen clinical isolates and 23 environmental strains were identified, with a same bla (VIM-2) gene that encoded a carbapenemase identified in Southern Europe and South Korea. Five different genotypes were identified among clinical and environmental P. aeruginosa isolates all harboring an approximately 45-kb plasmid with bla (VIM-2)-positive class 1 integrons varying in structures. This study identified a hidden reservoir of carbapenemase producers.
authors.affiliation: Service de Bactériologie-Virologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Assistance Publique/Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre cedex, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aubron
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poirel
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fortineau
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Collet
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordmann
mesh_terms: D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005602:France; D006405:Hematology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology; D032023:Integrons; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015378:Imipenem; D002442:Ceftazidime; C425108:beta-lactamase bla(vim-2); D001618:beta-Lactamases