Genomic Characterization of NDM-1 Producer Providencia stuartii Isolated in Russia

Background/Objectives:Providencia stuartii is intrinsically resistant to several antibiotic classes, and acquisition of bla_NDM further restricts treatment options. This study aimed to characterize NDM-producing P. stuartii isolates from a small hospital cluster in Russia and to place them within the global genomic context. Methods: Four isolates recovered between June and July 2023 from a single hospital were analyzed using Illumina and Oxford Nanopore sequencing to assess genetic relatedness and plasmid content. Results: The isolates showed identical extensively drug-resistant profiles and were closely related genomically. All carried nearly identical IncC plasmids harboring multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, including bla_NDM. Comparative analysis indicated that these genomes clustered with recent European isolates but differed in the bla_NDM allele and its genomic location. Highly similar IncC plasmids were also found in our previous Klebsiella pneumoniae dataset, demonstrating that this plasmid backbone occurs in multiple bacterial species in the region. Conclusions: The study highlights the role of IncC plasmids in carbapenemase dissemination and underscores the value of genomic surveillance integrating chromosomal and plasmid analyses to track extensively drug-resistant pathogens.