KPC-2 producing Pseudomonas putida as an unexpected pathogen of catheter-associated bloodstream infection

Raiane Cardoso Chamon1, Jaqueline Abel da Rocha2, Isabella Araujo Martins3

  • 1Pathology Department, Medical School of Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. raianechamon@gmail.com.

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas putida carrying the blaKPC-2 gene caused a bloodstream infection in an immunocompromised patient. This highlights P. putida as a potential reservoir for carbapenemase genes, posing a significant public health threat.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens, particularly carbapenemase-producing strains, represent a critical global health challenge.
  • Pseudomonas putida is an emerging cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and its role in bloodstream infections (BSIs) is increasingly recognized.

Observation:

  • A case of peripheral line-associated bloodstream infection (PLA-BSI) in an immunocompromised patient in Brazil was caused by Pseudomonas putida.
  • The P. putida isolate was identified using BD Phoenix™ 100 and confirmed with MALDI-TOF MS.
  • The isolate exhibited resistance to carbapenems, confirmed by E-test®, and harbored the blaKPC-2 gene, identified via Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Findings:

  • The study identified a meropenem-resistant P. putida strain possessing the blaKPC-2 carbapenemase gene.
  • This represents an uncommon agent of BSI carrying a prevalent resistance mechanism.

Implications:

  • These findings suggest that P. putida can act as a reservoir and disseminator of carbapenem resistance genes within hospital and community environments.
  • The study underscores the need for vigilance regarding the emergence of carbapenemase-producing P. putida in bloodstream infections, especially in vulnerable patient populations.