Plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Latin America and Caribbean: A systematic review

A systematic review was performed in order to integrate and synthesize available information on mcr genes dissemination in Latin America. Four databases were searched for articles reporting plasmid-mediated colistin resistance between bacteria isolated from countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Abstract books of scientific events realized in each region were also examined. After search and selection, 48 studies that included 18,705 isolates recovered between 2000 and 2018 were evaluated. The overall frequency of mcr genes in Latin America was 2.9% (550/18,705), with IncX4 plasmids shown to be the key vectors responsible for the dissemination of genes within the continent. Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina were the countries with the highest number of mcr-positive isolates, and only Colombia (mcr-5) and Brazil (mcr-3) presented mcr genes other than type 1. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium were mainly found to carry the gene within the continent and these microorganisms showed high susceptibility to ertapenem, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, fosfomycin and tigecycline. This review showed that the mcr gene is circulating in several countries of Latin America. Thus, it is important to encourage microbiological and molecular surveillance programs to avoid the spread of these genes within and outside the continent.