Emergence in Japan of an isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae co-harbouring blaKPC-2 and rmtB.

Abstract

Here we describe a clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 harbouring both blaKPC-2 and rmtB genes in Japan. A carbapenem- and aminoglycoside-resistant K. pneumoniae was isolated from an inpatient in Japan. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using an Illumina next-generation sequencer. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of meropenem and amikacin were ≥512μg/mL. WGS analysis revealed that the isolate harboured both blaKPC-2 and rmtB. The genetic environments of blaKPC-2 and rmtB consisted of IS6-orfA-orfB-IS481-blaKPC-2-ISKpn6-korC-orfC-orfD-rep-tnp-Tn3-IS6 and IS6-IS91-orfE-orfF-blaTEM-1-rmtB-orfG-IS6, respectively. These genetic environments are similar (>99% identity) to those of K. pneumoniae WCHKP040035 (accession no. CP028796) isolated in a Chinese hospital. The blaKPC-2 and rmtB genes were located on a 130-kb IncFII plasmid. This is the first report of a K. pneumoniae clinical isolate from Japan co-harbouring blaKPC-2 and rmtB on a 130-kb plasmid.