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IMP-1 and a novel metallo-beta-lactamase, VIM-6, in fluorescent pseudomonads isolated in Singapore

Tse Hsien Koh1, Grace Chee Yeng Wang, Li-Hwei Sng

  • 1Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, 1 Hospital Dr., 168608 Singapore, Singapore. gptthk@sgh.com.sg

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|May 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Four carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas species were identified in Singapore. These included novel variants of carbapenemase genes bla(IMP-1) and bla(VIM-6), highlighting emerging resistance threats.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas species poses a significant global health threat.
  • The emergence and spread of carbapenemase genes are key drivers of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Surveillance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas species isolated from patients in Singapore.
  • To identify and analyze the carbapenemase genes present in these isolates.
  • To understand the genetic diversity of carbapenem resistance mechanisms in this region.

Main Methods:

  • Bacterial isolation and identification of Pseudomonas species.
  • Phenotypic testing for carbapenem resistance.
  • Molecular analysis, including PCR and sequencing, to detect and characterize carbapenemase genes (blaIMP and blaVIM).

Main Results:

  • Four carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas species were isolated.
  • One isolate of *Pseudomonas putida* harbored the *bla(IMP-1)* gene identical to a Japanese strain.
  • A *Pseudomonas fluorescens* isolate contained a variant *bla(IMP-1)* with four silent mutations.
  • Other *P. putida* isolates carried *bla(VIM-6)*, a novel variant of the VIM gene.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified carbapenem-resistant *Pseudomonas* species in Singapore carrying both known and novel carbapenemase genes.
  • The findings indicate the presence of diverse carbapenem resistance mechanisms, including *bla(IMP-1)* and a new *bla(VIM-6)* variant.
  • This highlights the need for ongoing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings.

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