大肠埃希菌对碳青霉烯类药物的耐药机制研究

目的 研究我院普外科重症监护病房(ICU)出现的对碳青霉烯类抗菌药物耐药的大肠埃希菌分子流行病学特征和碳青霉烯耐药机制.方法 采用琼脂稀释法检测分离株的抗菌药物敏感性,采用脉冲场琼脂糖凝胶电泳(PFGE)研究碳青霉烯类耐药的大肠埃希菌分子流行病学机制,采用特异性PCR、DNA测序分析、接合试验、质粒提取和质粒转化试验、外膜蛋白分析等技术研究碳青霉烯耐药的分子机制.结果 我院分离的14株碳青霉烯耐药菌分别属于10个流行克隆型,均表现对包括亚胺培南和美罗培南在内多种抗菌药物耐药,碳青霉烯类耐药基因扩增显示均携带KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶基因,质粒提取与转化试验显示KPC-2定位于约56 kb大小的质粒上,SDS-PAGE分析发现耐药株多出现外膜蛋白的改变.结论 我院出现多个流行克隆型的碳青霉烯类耐药的大肠埃希菌,质粒型碳青霉烯酶KPC-2是我院泛耐型大肠埃希菌介导对碳青霉烯类耐药的主要原因,外膜孔蛋白改变参与介导大肠埃希菌对碳青霉烯类高度耐药.     

摩根摩根菌中质粒介导KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶的检测

目的 研究碳青霉烯耐药摩根摩根菌的分子流行病学及其耐药机制.方法 2010年10月-2011年2月从杭州市中医院分离到7株碳青霉烯不敏感的摩根摩根菌.脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)分析菌株之间的同源性;琼脂稀释法测定抗生素对细菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC);接合试验、质粒图谱分析、特异性PCR扩增和序列分析等研究细菌对碳青霉烯耐药的分子机制.结果 分离自急诊监护病房的6株摩根摩根菌PFGE条带完全相同或相差1～3个条带;分离自重症监护病房的1株摩根摩根菌与其他6株PFGE条带差异明显.7株摩根摩根菌的耐药模式基本相同.亚胺培南、美罗培南和厄他培南的MIC值差异较大,分别为8μg/ml(耐药)、1μg/ml(敏感)和0.25～0.50μg/ml(敏感或中介耐药).7株摩根摩根菌对青霉素类、氨曲南和环丙沙星耐药,对头孢菌素类耐药或敏感,对阿米卡星敏感.接合试验使大肠埃希菌EC600对碳青霉烯类抗生素由敏感变为耐药,对其他β-内酰胺类抗生素也均耐药.摩根摩根菌及转移接合子均含有一个约为60kb的质粒.PCR扩增及测序表明摩根摩根菌及转移接合子均产KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶,且携带qnrS1基因.结论 首次在摩根摩根菌中检测到KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶,KPC-2是引起摩根摩根菌对碳青霉烯类不敏感的主要原因.     

一株同时产KPC-2和NDM-5碳青霉烯酶的肺炎克雷伯菌耐药基因特征分析

目的分析一株同时产KPC-2和NDM-5碳青霉烯酶的肺炎克雷伯菌耐药基因特征。方法肺炎克雷伯菌KPN-hnqyy分离自我院血液科一位患者的粪便标本, 使用仪器BD Phenix-M50鉴定菌株并测定最小抑菌浓度;酶联免疫层析试验和PCR方法检测碳青霉烯酶基因型;接合试验检测相关质粒的转移性;PacBio和Illumina平台对菌株全基因组测序, 并在BacWGSTdb数据库中检索菌株MLST分型、耐药基因和质粒类型, 使用软件Easyfig₂.2.3比对基因组和开放读码框序列, BRIG v0.95生成可视化质粒圈图。结果肺炎克雷伯菌KPN-hnqyy对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药, MLST分型为ST11型, blaKPC-2和blaNDM-5碳青霉烯酶基因阳性;接合子blaKPC-2基因阳性, blaNDM-5阴性;全基因组测序显示菌株含有1个染色体和3个质粒;肺炎克雷伯菌KP69和KP19-2029等与本研究菌株染色体基因组相似性大于99.9%, 且其各自携带的不同种类的质粒上含有相似的IncR和IncFⅠ耐药基因融合区, blaKPC-2基因位于此融合区中一个由T...     

同时产ArmA型16S rRNA甲基化酶及KPC-2型β-内酰胺酶泛耐药阴沟肠杆菌的研究

目的 探讨上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院分离的5株泛耐药阴沟肠杆菌产碳青霉烯酶及16S rRNA甲基化酶的情况及两者之间的相关性.方法 用E test法检测5株泛耐药阴沟肠杆菌对10种抗菌药物的MIC值.PCR扩增16S rRNA甲基化酶基因armA、mtA、rmtB、rmtC、rmtD、npmA,β-内酰胺酶基因TEM、SHV、CTX-M-1、CTX-M-2、CTX-M-8、CTX-M-9、CTX-M-25、PER-1、VEB-1.鸟枪克隆法克隆碳青霉烯酶基因,并对克隆片段进行测序.质粒接合试验验证碳青霉烯酶基因及16S rRNA甲基化酶基因是否具有转移性.脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)法对5株菌进行分子分型.等电聚焦电泳法检测β-内酰胺酶等电点.Southern杂交法对耐药决定因子进行定位.结果 5株阴沟肠杆菌对10种抗菌药物的MIC值均＞32 mg/L.克隆的碳青霉稀酶基因为blaKPC-2,酶编码基因上游为一转座酶基因,两侧为复制靶位,下游为ISKpn6的插入序列,该序列包括一个重复序列和tnpA转座子,酶编码基因位于54.2 kb的一个非接合性大质粒上.等电聚焦电泳显示5株菌均产4种β-内酰胺酶(TEM-1,pI5.4;KPC-2,pI6.7;SHV-12,pI8.2;CTX-M-14,pI8.4).16S rRNA甲基化酶基因位于接合性质粒上,而blaKPC-2基因则位于非接合性质粒上,5株菌PFGE型别一致.结论 5株泛耐药阴沟肠杆菌对碳青霉烯类耐药由产碳青霉烯酶KPC-2所介导.blaKPC-2与armA型16S rRNA甲基化酶基因由两条不同的质粒编码,不存在相关性.临床医院应加强监控,以防止交叉感染.     

质粒介导KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶肺炎克雷伯菌儿童分离株耐药基因研究

目的 研究碳青霉烯类耐药肺炎克雷伯菌临床儿童分离株的耐药特点及分子流行病学特征.方法 收集温州医学院附属第二医院2010年7月-2011年6月从儿童标本中分离的耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌12株,所有菌株为非重复菌株,菌种鉴定采用全自动微生物分析仪.改良的Hodge试验筛选产碳青霉烯酶阳性菌株,采用PCR法检测KPC、IMP、bla(s)、VIM、SPM和整合酶基因,测序确定基因型.对菌株进行质粒结合试验、质粒消除试验检测质粒的转移性.脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)分析耐药菌株的同源性.结果 12株耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌对庆大霉素、妥布霉素、阿米卡星、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星、复方磺胺甲噁唑的敏感率分别为8.3％、41.7％、58.3％、8.3％、8.3％、33.3％;12株菌均携带有KPC-2基因,且同时携带有TEM-1和SHV型β-内酰胺酶基因,其中SHV-11-like和SHV-1 2-like各6株;11株携带CTX-M型基因,其中4株为CTX-M-14-like基因,6株CTX-M-15-like基因;2株携带有OXA-10型基因,1株携带有PER-1基因.未检出NDM-1、GIM、SPM、SIM、VIM型碳青霉烯酶基因.12株均为Ⅰ类整合酶基因(int1)阳性.2株通过接合试验把质粒传递给受体菌EC600.所有接合子blaTEM-1基因阳性、超广谱β-内酰胺酶(ESBL)基因阳性及对亚胺培南、庆大霉素、阿米卡星、妥布霉素和头孢噻肟耐药,接合子ESBL基因型与供菌一致.2株菌经质粒消除后对亚胺培南的MIC值均有较大程度降低,消除后KPC-2基因扩增为阴性.12株KPC-2基因阳性菌株经PFGE分成5个基因型,主要为B型和C型.结论 KPC-2型碳青霉烯酶基因已经在儿童肺炎克雷伯菌中播散,常伴随携带多种类型的ESBL基因和Ⅰ类整合酶基因,部分耐药基因可通过质粒播散.     

血流感染碳青霉烯耐药肺炎克雷伯菌的耐药特征及机制研究

目的 探讨无菌血标本分离碳青霉烯耐药肺炎克雷伯菌(CRKP)的耐药机制及分子分型.方法 测定32株CRKP最低抑菌浓度(MIC),mCIM和eCIM法检测碳青霉烯酶;PCR法检测耐药基因;多位点序列分型(MLST)进行分子分型;RT-PCR检测膜孔蛋白OMPK35/36基因相对表达情况.结果 药敏试验显示32株CRKP...     

blaKPC-2在耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌中的传播机制

耐碳青霉烯类肺炎克雷伯菌(CRKP)在临床高度流行, 由于缺乏有效治疗药物而带来了显著挑战。blaKPC-2编码的肺炎克雷伯菌碳青霉烯酶-2(KPC-2)是CRKP产生碳青霉烯抗性的主要原因之一。在中国和其他亚洲地区, Tn1721和IncFⅡ质粒是blaKPC-2在缺乏规律间隔成簇短回文重复序列(CRISPR)和限制-修饰(R-M)系统的Kpn ST11之间转移的主要载体。转座子的结构对耐药基因的转座频率有明显影响, 这可能和不同转座子的转座模式有关系。blaKPC-2在ST11中有流行优势与ST11免疫缺陷有重要联系, 用重新设计的CRISPR/Cas3系统通过接合实验传递入ST11型肺炎克雷伯菌, 高危IncFⅡ质粒可以被成功剪切, 从而使ST11型CRKP恢复对抗生素的敏感性, 这为CRKP的临床治疗和预防提供了新思路。     

泛耐药肺炎克雷伯菌株的医院内流行特性的研究

目的 了解华山医院泛耐药肺炎克雷伯菌株及其流行的特点.方法 收集2006年8月-2009年12月对CLSI推荐常规检测药物均耐药的肺炎克雷们菌临床分离株,共57株.所有菌株都进行药物敏感试验、超广谱β-内酰胺酶(ESBLs)初筛及表型确证试验、改良Hodge试验、等电聚焦电泳,聚合酶链反应及其产物测序、接合试验、肠杆菌基因间重复共有序列PCR(ERIC-PCR)和多位点序列分型(MLST).结果 所有菌株都携带blaKPC-2、blaCTX-M-14、blaSHV12和blaTEM-1及qnrB和aac(6')-I b-cr基因.57株细菌中ST423型5株,MIST ST11型52株.ST423型散发,而ST11型呈医院内流行.57株细菌都对替加环素耐药,对多黏菌素、米诺环素和多西环素部分敏感.结论 本次泛耐药肺炎克雷们流行主要为ST11型菌株;不同的肺炎克雷伯菌株,播散能力不同;检出泛耐药肺炎克雷伯菌时应增加检测药物的种类.

Abstract：

Objective To understand the epidemic characteristics of an outbreak of panresistance Klebsiella pneumoniae occurred between 2006 and 2009 in a university hospital of Shanghai, China. Methods A total of 57 panresistance K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from August 2006 to December 2009.Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates were determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and microbroth dilution (MBD). ESBLs-producing initial screen test and phenotypic confirmatory test and carbapenemase-producing modified Hodge test ( MHT) were performed to detect the resistance phenotype of the isolates. Be-ta-lactamases were studied by IEF, PCR and the product sequencing. While conjugation assay were conducted to understand the transferability of these genes. The genetic relationship between isolates was established by ERIC-PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Except for the antibiotics recommended by CLSI guideline in the routine test, the other antibiotics were added to find out the effective drugs to treat the infection. Results All 57 isolates were highly resistant to all examined antibiotics. All isolates produced ESBLs and carbapenemase. IEF revealed that each isolate produced four beta-lactamases. All isolates carried blaKPC-2,blaCTX-M-14,blaSHV12,blaTEM-1,qnrB and aac(6') - I b-cr. Forty-four of the 57 (77.2% ) isolates were successful to transfer their resistance genes to E. coli recipient J53 by conjugation assay. By RAPD, all 57 isolates were grouped into two genotypes that were further identified as members of MUST types 423 and 11.Sequence types 423(ST423) only occurred before May 2008 and ST11 occurred (52 isolates) after May 2008. Most of isolates of the outbreak were ST11 (91. 2% ). A part of isolates were susceptive to added antibiotics. Conclusion The outbreak of panresistance K.pneumoniae was caused by those isolates which carried multiple resistant genes. There is a different ability of dissemination between different ST types K. pneumoniae isolate. It was necessary to add the antibiotics to find out the effective drugs to treat the infection.     

肺炎克雷伯菌的喹诺酮外排基因qepA的检测及菌株同源性分析

目的 检测质粒介导的喹诺酮类外排基因qepA在临床分离的产超广谱β-内酰胺酶(ESBLs)的肺炎克雷伯菌中的分布情况,并对阳性菌株进行同源性分析.方法 41株细菌的鉴定和药敏采用Vitek-2 Compact系统;采用PCR法检测qepA并进行序列测定、比对.应用Rep-PCR法采用Diversilab系统对qepA阳性菌株进行同源性分析;同时了解阳性株上的rmtB分布情况.结果 5株肺炎克雷伯菌上检测到qepA基因,检出率为12.2%.Diversilab分析结果表明其中两株的qepA阳性菌同源性超过99%.包含qepA的肺炎克雷伯菌中2株(40%)检出rmtB.结论 在肺炎克雷伯菌临床菌株上检出质粒介导的喹诺酮类外排基因qepA.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the prevalence of qepA, quinolone efflux protein, among 41 unique clinical strains of K. pneumoniae producing ESBLs and to study the qepA-bearing isolates using the Diversilab system. Methods Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility were performed by Vitek-2 Compact System. Screening of qepA was carried out by PCR amplification. The NCBI BLAST program was utilized for sequence comparisons. qnr-bearing strains was evaluated by the Repetitive-sequence-based PCR(Rep-PCR) employing the Diversilab system. And the existence of rmtB was detected among these qepA contained isolates. Results qepA were detected in 5 isolates( 12.2% ). The Rep-PCR profiles produced by the Diversilab system showed that 2/5 of isolates were indistinguishable. And 60% of qepA-positive isolates were detected to harbor rmtB gene. Conclusion The data suggest the emergence of qepA-borne K. pneumoniae.     

碳青霉烯类药物耐药的弗劳地枸橼酸杆菌耐药机制研究

目的 对耐碳青霉烯类弗劳地枸橼酸杆菌进行同源性分析及多种耐药基因的检测.方法 用琼脂稀释法测定其最低抑菌浓度( MIC)值,采用脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)分析耐碳青霉烯类弗劳地枸橼酸杆菌的同源性,以聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测β-内酰胺酶、膜孔蛋白的缺失等多种耐药基因.结果 PFGE显示1、2、4、5号菌株均有19个条带,具有同源性;PCR试验检测结果1、4号菌携带blaCTX-M型超广谱β-内酰胺酶(ESBLs);2、3、5号菌携带携带blaDHA,3号携带bla ACT/MIR型AmpC 基因,1、2、4、5号菌携带bla KPC-2碳青霉烯酶基因;2号、4号菌株缺失膜孔蛋白基因ompF,3号菌株同时缺失ompC和ompF;其中3号菌株的16S rRNA基因定量确定AmpC基因的表达为阴性菌的106.7倍.结论 宁波市第一医院碳青霉烯类耐药的弗劳地枸橼酸盐杆菌具有同源性,其耐药机制由KPC酶、AmpC酶、ESBLs、膜孔蛋白缺失等共同作用所形成,多数耐药基因定位在质粒上易引起耐药性的播散,临床应引起高度重视.     

Identification of blaKPC-2 on different plasmids of three Morganella morganii isolates

Three Morganella morganii strains resistant to carbapenems were recovered from the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) in our hospital. Carbapenemases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) were respectively detected by the modified Hodge test and the modified Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) ESBL confirmatory test in all isolates. Amplification of whole-cell and plasmid DNAs extracted from isolates with primers specific for the bla _KPC produced an amplicon confirmed to be bla _KPC-2 by sequence analysis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing revealed that three isolates belonged to two closely related types. Plasmids electrophoresis and restriction analysis revealed that the bla _KPC-2 was located on different plasmids. The transfer of carbapenem resistance from the three original isolates to Escherichia coli EC600 was successful by conjugation. An examination of the outer membrane proteins showed a lack of a 38-kDa outer membrane protein (OMP) compared with M. morganii susceptible to carbapenems. The production of KPC-2 and ESBLs, combined with OMP deficiency, resulted in high-level carbapenem resistance in the M. morganii strains. The genetic environment around bla _KPC-2 analysis revealed that this β-lactamase was located on the same mobile genetic elements which could transfer between different plasmids.     

Imipenem Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae Is Associated to the Combination of Plasmid-Mediated CMY-4 AmpC β-Lactamase and Loss of an Outer Membrane Protein

This study was conducted to identify the molecular mechanisms of imipenem resistance in a Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp16137) isolate recovered in August 2008 at the University Hospital Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia. The strain was identified with the API 20E system; antibiotic-containing disks were used for detection of antibiotic susceptibility by a disk diffusion assay. We investigated the presence of β-lactamases by PCR, using specific primers for bla(TEM), bla(SHV), bla(CTX-M), bla(OXA), bla(CMY), bla(ACC), bla(FOX), bla(IMP), bla(KPC), bla(VIM), and by sequencing. Extraction of plasmid DNA from Kp16137 and the transconjugant was performed by the method of Kado. Southern transfer was performed on nylon. The membrane was hybridized with a specific probe for the bla(CMY-2) gene. Outer membrane proteins were isolated and were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on 12% polyacrylamide gel. K. pneumoniae Kp16137 was resistant to all available β-lactams, including third generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. The screening of β-lactamases showed the presence of three β-lactamases: TEM-1, SHV-61, and CMY-4. The CMY-4 β-lactamase was located on an 80-kb plasmid. An analysis of the outer membrane proteins of this isolate revealed that it lacked a porin of 42?kDa. The loss of this outer membrane protein band correlated with imipenem resistance in this strain. In K. pneumoniae 16137, synthesis of a plasmid-mediated β-lactamase: AmpC CMY-4, together with alteration in permeability led to resistance to all available β-lactams and carbapenems.     

bla KPC and rmtB on a single plasmid in Enterobacter amnigenus and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from the same patient

Enterobacter amnigenus (EA76) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP76) isolates with multidrug-resistant (MDR) patterns were identified from the same patient in the neurosurgery department of our hospital. An outbreak of MDR K. pneumoniae had also occurred in this department. To characterize the resistance mechanism and molecular epidemiology of these isolates, sequential experiments including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), plasmid analysis, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were performed. EA76 and KP76 were resistant to all of the antibiotics tested, except colistin and tigecycline. blaKPC-2, blaTEM-1, blaSHV-12, blaCTX-M-3, blaCTX-M-14, and rmtB genes were identified in both isolates, with blaKPC-2, blaTEM-1, blaCTX-M-14, and rmtB being co-carried on one plasmid in each isolate. Further analysis showed different restriction patterns between the two KPC-carrying plasmids. Of the 11 carbapenem-resistant isolates found in the outbreak, all were resistant to all of the β-lactams tested, with 63.64% (7/11) also exhibiting resistance to aminoglycosides and 72.73% (8/11) exhibiting resistance to quinolones. PCR analysis and molecular typing of the 11 K. pneumoniae strains revealed that the seven aminoglycoside-resistant isolates shared the same antibiotic-resistant gene pattern and identical or one-band-difference PFGE profiles relative to KP76. In addition, all of the eight aminoglycoside-resistant isolates, including KP76, belonged to the national epidemic clone ST11. The overall results indicate the emergence of E. amnigenus and outbreak of ST11 K. pneumoniae, with both co-harboring blaKPC and rmtB genes on a single plasmid in our neurosurgery wards.     

Molecular characterization of newly emerged blaKPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Singapore

In Asia, bla(KPC) detection has been limited to East Asia and not yet seen in Southeast Asia. We report four bla(KPC-2)-containing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from two different hospitals in Singapore. All isolates belonged to strain type 11 (ST11) and were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). bla(KPC-2) was located on nonconjugative plasmids and flanked by mobile genetic structures composed of a partial Tn4401 transposon and a Tn3-based transposon which previously have been described only in Chinese isolates.     

Emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates producing inducible DHA-1 beta-lactamase in a university hospital in Taiwan

Ten nonrepetitive clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting an unusual inducible beta-lactam resistance phenotype were identified between January 1999 and September 2001 in a university hospital in Taiwan. In the presence of 2 micro g of clavulanic acid, the isolates showed a one to four twofold concentration increase in the MICs of ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and aztreonam but remained susceptible to cefepime (MICs, 相似文献   

Emergence of CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fifty-seven nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) were collected between February 2007 and November 2007 in different wards of the Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) reference hospital. These isolates comprise two major epidemic pulsed-field electrophoresis-defined clones plus two minor clones. In addition to the ESBL-mediated resistance, all strains uniformly showed resistance to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and tobramycin. The β-lactamases involved in this resistance phenotype were TEM-1, SHV-1, and CTX-M-15, as demonstrated by isoelectric focusing, PCR amplification, and sequencing. TEM-1 and CTX-M-15 β-lactamases, as well as the aminoglycoside resistance determinants, were encoded in plasmids that could be transferred to Escherichia coli by conjugation. In three of the infected patients with the predominant clone, cefoxitin resistance development (MICs >128 mg/L) was documented. The analysis of the outer membrane proteins of the cefoxitin-susceptible and cefoxitin-resistant isolates revealed that the former expressed only one of the two major porins, OmpK36, whereas in the latter, the expression of Ompk36 was altered or abolished. This is the first report of CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Furthermore, we document and characterize for the first time cefoxitin resistance development in CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae.     

Molecular epidemiology of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that produce SHV-4 beta-lactamase and which were isolated in 14 French hospitals.

Preliminary results suggested that the diffusion in France of the SHV-4 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was probably due to the spread of one single epidemic strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae. In this study, we tested various phenotypic and genotypic markers to compare K. pneumoniae strains producing this enzyme isolated in 14 French hospitals between 1987 and 1989. All of the strains were of the same capsule serotype, K25. Twelve of them were of the same biotype: weak urease activity and no sucrose fermentation. Among the six plasmid profiles observed, one accounted for eight strains. Large plasmids of 170 kb encoding SHV-4 beta-lactamase were present in all strains of K. pneumoniae and could be transferred by conjugation with high frequency to Escherichia coli J53-2 or HB101 from all except one strain. Plasmid EcoRI restriction patterns suggested that these plasmids were closely related and similar to pUD18 encoding SHV-3 beta-lactamase, originally described in France and differing from SHV-4 by one amino acid substitution. Ribotyping with EcoRI and HindIII and genomic fingerprinting with XbaI by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were concordant and suggested that 12 of the isolates recovered from the 14 hospitals were probably the same strain. Dissemination in France of the SHV-4 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase was thus essentially due to the diffusion of a single K. pneumoniae clone.