Journal Article
Within patient horizontal gene transfer dynamics of a blaNDM−7 plasmid among four different bacterial species
O. van Katwijk; M. Mulder; L. van Alphen; F. Landman; A. Hendrickx; A. Verkerk; L. Sligman; R. Schnabel; W. van der Zwet; E. Smeets; JAMC. Dirks; C. Jamin
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases · Vol. 45, Issue 2 · pp. 599-603 · 2026
Abstract
Purpose We describe the case of a 73-year old male who was found to be a carrier of an bla NDM -producing Citrobacter freundii shortly after admission. During his admission, he developed abdominal abscesses and received multiple courses of piperacillin-tazobactam. In the following months, he was found to carry three other carbapenemase-positive species: Klebsiella oxytoca , Raoultella planticola and Serratia marscescens . Results Two of these strains had clustering carbapenem-sensitive isolates cultured before. The species all carried an bla NDM−7 encoding incX3 plasmid, which demonstrated horizontal gene transfer within this patient. Conclusion This case report underlines the importance of mobile genetic elements in infection control, as they serve as transmission vehicles for antimicrobial resistance beyond the spread of identical bacterial strains.