title: Plasmid-mediated imipenem-hydrolyzing enzyme KPC-2 among multiple carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli clones in Israel.
abstract: Carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli is rare. We report four genetically unrelated carbapenem-resistant E. coli isolates cultured from four patients hospitalized in Tel Aviv Medical Center. PCR, sequencing, and Southern blot analysis identified KPC-2 as the imipenem-hydrolyzing enzyme in all four strains, carried on different plasmids with a possible common origin. This is the first discovery of KPC-2 in E. coli and the first report of this enzyme originating outside the United States.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel. shiri_nv@tasmc.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Shiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Navon-Venezia
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chmelnitsky
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leavitt
authors.forename: Mitchell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schwaber
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carmeli
mesh_terms: D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D015378:Imipenem / Q000378:metabolism*; D007557:Israel; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015780:Carbapenems; D015378:Imipenem; C491478:beta-lactamase KPC-2; D001618:beta-Lactamases