Imipenem-resistance in Serratia marcescens is mediated by plasmid expression of KPC-2

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Antibiotic Resistance

Background:

• Imipenem is a critical carbapenem antibiotic for severe bacterial infections.
• The emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the mechanism of imipenem resistance in Serratia marcescens.
• To investigate the role of plasmid-mediated carbapenemase expression.

Main Methods:

• Modified Hodge test was used to detect carbapenemase production.
• Plasmid transfer was assessed using co-culture experiments with E. coli.
• PCR amplification and gene sequencing were employed to identify the specific carbapenemase.

Main Results:

• Imipenem-resistant Serratia marcescens was identified.
• Plasmid-mediated transfer of resistance to E. coli was confirmed.
• PCR and sequencing identified the presence of KPC-2 carbapenemase in the resistant strains.

Conclusions:

• The study proposes that plasmid-mediated KPC-2 expression is responsible for imipenem resistance in the identified Serratia marcescens isolate.
• This finding highlights the importance of monitoring carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.