Emergence of Citrobacter freundii carrying IMP-8 metallo-β-lactamase in Germany

New Microbes New Infect. 2014 Mar;2(2):42-5. doi: 10.1002/nmi2.36. Epub 2014 Mar 20.

Abstract

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) in Enterobacteriaceae are an increasing problem worldwide. This report describes the isolation of Citrobacter freundii carrying IMP-8 MBL from three patients during the period from March 2012 until March 2013 in Germany. The bla IMP-8 enzyme is predominantly found in Asia, where IMP-8 has spread to various enterobacterial species causing serious infections. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of bla IMP-8 habouring Enterobacteriaceae in Europe.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; IMP; infection control; laboratory surveillance; metallo-β-lactamases; multidrug resistance.