Emergence in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae clinical isolates of the VIM-4 metallo-beta-lactamase encoded by a conjugative plasmid

Resistance to carbapenems is an emerging problem among gram-negative hospital pathogens. A transferable plasmid encoding the VIM-4 metallo-beta-lactamase was detected in isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae obtained from a single patient under carbapenem therapy. Thus, enterobacteria appear to increasingly contribute to the spread of VIM-type enzymes.