Novel variant (bla(VIM-11)) of the metallo-{beta}-lactamase bla(VIM) family in a GES-1 extended-spectrum-{beta}-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolate in Argentina

Abstract

Two major groups of acquired β-lactamases have emerged in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Ambler class A extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and class B metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) (7, 9). MBLs are an expanding group of carbapenemases that includes the VIM family. To date, multiple allelic variants, namely, VIM-1 to VIM-10 (http://www.lahey.org/studies ), have been described in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, VIM-2 being the most ubiquitous enzyme by far (7, 8; R. E. Mendes, M. Castanheira, P. Garcia, M. Guzman, M. A. Toleman, T. R. Walsh, and R. N. Jones, Letter, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 48:1433-1434, 2004). Additionally, five types of ESBLs have been detected in P. aeruginosa: TEM, SHV, PER, VEB, and IBC/GES (9). Association between VIM and ESBLs still appears to be a rare event in P. aeruginosa and was reported only for VIM-2 with either PER-1 or IBC-2 (3; J. D. Docquier, J. D., F. Luzzaro, G. Amicosante, A. Toniolo, and G. M. Rossolini, Letter, Emerg. Infect. Dis. 7:910-911, 2001). MBL- or ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates have not yet been reported in Argentina, while the coexistence of VIM with GES-1 in a single clinical isolate has not been documented anywhere.