Current Prevalence of the crpP Gene in Carbapenemase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Blood Isolates in Korea

Abstract

Background: Recently, CrpP enzymes have been described as a novel cause of ciprofloxacinresistance. The crpP gene encodes a novel protein that specifically confers resistance tociprofloxacin through an adenosine triphosphate-dependent mechanism that phosphorylatesthe antimicrobial. In this study, the current prevalence of the crpP gene in carbapenemaseproducingPseudomonas aeruginosa blood isolates was evaluated. Methods: During the study of the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System in Korea, 22blood isolates of carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa were collected from nine generalhospitals and two nursing homes in the year 2020. Resistance genes and phylogenic trees wereanalyzed with the whole genome sequencing data. Results: A total of 11 P. aeruginosa blood isolates coharbored the crpP and carbapenemasegenes (nine IMP-6 producers and two GES-5-producers). Nine NDM-1-producers coharboredaac(6')-Ib-cr and qnrVC1. One GES-9-producer also carried aac(6')-Ib-cr, and one NDM-1-producer also carried qnrVC1. The phylogenic tree showed no epidemiologic link among the 22carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates. Conclusion: This is the first report on the current prevalence of the crpP gene in carbapenemaseproducingP. aeruginosa blood isolates in Korea.