Molecular Epidemiology of KPC-Producing Escherichia coli: Occurrence of ST131-fimH30 Subclone Harboring pKpQIL-Like IncFIIk Plasmid

Of 20 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Escherichia coli isolates identified at hospitals in western Pennsylvania, 60% belonged to the epidemic ST131-fimH30 subclone. IncFIIk was the most common replicon type for the bla(KPC)-carrying plasmids (n = 8). All IncFIIk plasmids possessed a scaffold similar to that of pKpQIL, and seven of them were borne by ST131-fimH30 isolates. IncN plasmids conferred resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and IncA/C plasmids conferred resistance to gentamicin. Three bla(KPC)-carrying plasmids (IncA/C and IncN) possessed bla(SHV-7/12) and qnrA1 or qnrS1.