SummaryBackgroundGram-negative Enterobacteriaceae with resistance to carbapenem conferred by New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) are potentially a major global health problem. We investigated the prevalence of NDM-1, in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in India, Pakistan, and the UK.MethodsEnterobacteriaceae isolates were studied from two major centres in India—Chennai (south India), Haryana (north India)—and those referred to the UK's national reference laboratory. Antibiotic susceptibilities were assessed, and the presence of the carbapenem resistance gene blaNDM-1 was established by PCR. Isolates were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of XbaI-restricted genomic DNA. Plasmids were analysed by S1 nuclease digestion and PCR typing. Case data for UK patients were reviewed for evidence of travel and recent admission to hospitals in India or Pakistan.FindingsWe identified 44 isolates with NDM-1 in Chennai, 26 in Haryana, 37 in the UK, and 73 in other sites in India and Pakistan. NDM-1 was mostly found among Escherichia coli (36) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (111), which were highly resistant to all antibiotics except to tigecycline and colistin. K pneumoniae isolates from Haryana were clonal but NDM-1 producers from the UK and Chennai were clonally diverse. Most isolates carried the NDM-1 gene on plasmids: those from UK and Chennai were readily transferable whereas those from Haryana were not conjugative. Many of the UK NDM-1 positive patients had travelled to India or Pakistan within the past year, or had links with these countries.InterpretationThe potential of NDM-1 to be a worldwide public health problem is great, and co-ordinated international surveillance is needed.FundingEuropean Union, Wellcome Trust, and Wyeth.

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Introduction: Infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are difficult to treat as the majority of isolates exhibit varying degrees of beta-lactamase mediated resistance to most of the beta-lactam antibiotics. It is also not unusual to find a single isolate that expresses multiple β-lactamase enzymes, further complicating the treatment options. Thus the present study was designed to investigate the coexistence of different beta-lactamase enzymes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Methodology: A total of 202 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were tested for the presence of AmpC beta-lactamase, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and metallo beta-lactamase (MBL) enzyme. Detection of AmpC beta-lactamase was performed by disk antagonism test and a modified three-dimensional method, whereas detection of ESBL was done by the combined disk diffusion method per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and MBL were detected by the Imipenem EDTA disk potentiation test. Results: A total of 120 (59.4%) isolates were confirmed to be positive for AmpC beta-lactamase. Among them, 14 strains (7%) were inducible AmpC producers. Co-production of AmpC along with extended spectrum beta-lactamase and metallo beta-lactamase was reported in 3.3% and 46.6% isolates respectively. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the high prevalence of multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa producing beta-lactamase enzymes of diverse mechanisms. Thus proper antibiotic policy and measures to restrict the indiscriminative use of cephalosporins and carbapenems should be taken to minimize the emergence of this multiple beta-lactamase producing pathogens.

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