Occurrence of multi-carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain): A new epidemiologic scenario

Introduction

Multi-carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (M-CPE) are increasingly described. We characterized the M-CPE isolates prospectively recovered in our hospital (Madrid, Spain) over two years (2021–2022).

Methods

We collected 796 carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from clinical and surveillance samples. Carbapenemase production was confirmed with phenotypic (immunochromatographic, disk diffusion) and molecular (PCR, WGS) techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by a standard broth microdilution method. Clinical and demographic data were collected.

Results

Overall, 23 M-CPE (10 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 6 Citrobacter freundii complex, 3 Escherichia coli, 2 Klebsiella oxytoca, and 2 Enterobacter hormaechei) isolates were recovered from 17 patients (3% with CPE, 0.26-0.28 cases per 1000 admissions). OXA-48 + KPC-3 (7/23) and KPC-3 + VIM-1 (5/23) were the most frequent carbapenemase combinations. All patients had prior antibiotics exposure, including carbapenems (8/17). High resistance rates to ceftazidime/avibactam (14/23), imipenem/relebactam (16/23) and meropenem/vaborbactam (7/23) were found. Ceftazidime/avibactam + aztreonam combination was synergistic in all metallo-β-lactamase producers. Clonal and non-clonal related isolates were found, particularly in K. pneumoniae (5 ST29, 3 ST147, 3 ST307) and C. freundii (3 ST8, 2 ST125, 1 ST563). NDM-1 + OXA-48 was introduced with the ST147-K. pneumoniae high-risk clone linked to the transfer of a Ukrainian patient. We identified four possible nosocomial clonal transmission events between patients of the same clone with the same combination of carbapenemases (KPC-3 + VIM-1-ST29-K. pneumoniae, NDM-1 + OXA-48-ST147-K. pneumoniae and KPC-2 + VIM-1-ST145-K. oxytoca). Carbapenemase-encoding genes were located on different plasmids, except for VIM-1 + KPC-2-ST145-K. oxytoca. Cross-species transmission and a possible acquisition overtime was found, particularly between K. pneumoniae and E. coli producing OXA-48 + KPC-3.

Conclusion

M-CPE is an emerging threat in our hospital. Co-production of different carbapenemases, including metallo-β-lactamases, limits therapeutic options and depicts the need to reinforce infection control measures.