Emergence of Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas asiatica Producing NDM-1 and VIM-2 Metallo-β-Lactamases in Myanmar

Pseudomonas asiatica is a recently proposed species of the genus Pseudomonas. This study describes eight isolates of carbapenem-resistant P. asiatica harboring bla(NDM-1) and bla(VIM-2), genes encoding metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL). These isolates were obtained from urine samples of patients hospitalized in Myanmar. These isolates were resistant to carbapenems but susceptible to colistin. All eight isolates were positive for a carbapenemase inactivation method. CIMTrisll, and seven were positive on an immunochromatographic assay for NDM-type MBL. One isolate was highly resistant to aminoglycosides. Whole-genome sequencing showed that seven isolates harbored bla(NDM-1) and one harbored bla(VIM-2), with these genes located on the chromosome. One isolate harbored bla(NDM-1) and rmtC, a gene encoding 16S rRNA methylase. Five types of genomic environments surrounding bla(NDM-1) and bla(VIM-2) were detected in these eight isolates, with four isolates having the same type. These data indicate that P. asiatica isolates harboring genes encoding carbapenemases, including bla(NDM-1) and bla(VIM-2), are spreading in medical settings in Myanmar.