Identification of plasmid incQ1 and NTEKPC-iid harboring blaKPC-2 in isolates from Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in patients from Recife-PE, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigated the genetic environment of blaKPC-2 in Klebsiella pnemoniae multi-drug resistant clinical isolates. Methods: Four carbapenemase gene isolates resistant to carbapenems, collected from infected patients from two hospitals in Brazil, were investigated using polymerase chain reaction and plasmid DNA sequencing. Results: The blaKPC-2 gene was located between ISKpn6 and a resolvase tnpR in the non-Tn4401 element (NTEKPC- IId). It was detected on a plasmid belonging to the IncQ1 group. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of the blaKPC-2 gene in the NTEKPC-IId element carried by plasmid IncQ1 from infections in Brazil.