A new integron carrying VIM-2 metallo-β-lactamase gene cassette in a Serratia marcescens isolate.

Abstract

Serratia marcescens is an important nosocomial pathogen which is often resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. An imipenem-resistant S. marcescens isolate from a urine specimen was found to carry a blaVIM-2 gene cassette on a class 1 integron. This finding indicates that blaVIM-2 is presently spreading even to Serratia spp. in Korea, which could compromise the usefulness of carbapenem in the treatment of multi-resistant Gram-negative bacilli infections. Clinical laboratory should be able to detect the VIM-2-producing isolates with even low carbapenem MIC.