To investigate the resistance and transmission mechanism of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), so as to provide the scientific evidence for the treatment and prevention of CRE infection.

Seventy-six isolates of CRE isolated from Shaoxing Second Hospital between May 2016 and August 2018 were included. The isolates were re-identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of colistin, tigecycline, ceftazidime-avibactam, fosfomycin and other antibacterial drugs were determined using broth microdilution or agar dilution methods. PCR and sequencing analysis were performed to detect carbapenemase encoding genes (bla_KPC, bla_NDM, bla_IMP, bla_VIM, bla_OXA-48). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to analyze homology of strains. S1-PFGE combined with Southern blot hybridization were used to locate the carbapenamase genes. Filter mating test were performed to determine the horizontal transfer ability of plasmids harboring carbapenamase genes.

Among the 76 isolates of CRE, 51 isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae; 10 isolates were Escherichia coli; 15 isolates were other Enterobacterales. The 76 CREs were mainly isolated from urine, sputum and blood samples. The distribution rate of ICU was the highest (55.26%). The 76 CREs showed low resistance rates (0%, 1.33%, 18.42%) to colistin, tigecycline and ceftazidime-avibactam. The resistance rates to amikacin and fosfomycin were <45%, and the resistance rates to other drugs were >97%. The detection rate of KPC-2 carbapenemase was the highest (85.33%). The ST11 CRKP producing KPC-2 carbapenemase accounted for the highest proportion (62.75%), mainly distributed in the ICU (62.50%). Southern blot hybridization showed that bla_KPC-2 was mainly located on a plasmid about 90 kb (39/63). Filter mating test showed that bla_KPC, bla_NDM and bla_IMP could be transferred horizontally to recipient bacteria through plasmids.

The 76 CRE isolates were only susceptible to a few antibacterial drugs, such as colistin, tigecycline and ceftazidime-avibactam. The production of KPC-2 carbapenemase was the main reason for the resistance of Enterobacterales to carbapenems. KPC-2 carbapenemase-producing ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae was the main epidemic clone of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The 90 kb size plasmid was the main plasmid encoding bla_KPC-2 gene. Carbapenemase genes can be transferred horizontally through plasmids. The hospital should strengthen prevention of nosocomial infections to control the clonal prevalence of CRE.

Enterobacterales; Carbapenemase; Resistance; Transmission mechanism