Dissemination of NDM-producing bacteria in Southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND:The dissemination of NDM-1 carbapenemases (New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase) is a global public health problem, mainly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to characterize the spread of NDM-producing bacteria in the Southern Brazilian states analyzing epidemiological, molecular, and antimicrobial susceptibility aspects. METHODS:A total of 10,684 carbapenem-resistant isolates of Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. obtained from several hospitals in eight cities in Southern Brazil were screened, and 486 NDM-producing bacteria were selected. RESULTS:The incidence varied from 0.5 to 77 cases/100.000 habitants. ST11, ST15, ST340 and ST674 were the most common in K. pneumoniae. A total of 5 plasmids were identified in one K. pneumoniae strain: Col440I, Col440II, IncFIA(HI1), IncFIB(K), IncFIB(pQil)/ IncFII(K), and IncR. CONCLUSIONS:The number of patients with NDM-producing bacteria has increased in Southern Brazil, whose gene is present in different plasmids, explaining the expansion of this enzyme.