Trends in carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. from Europe and the Americas: report from the SENTRY antimicrobial surveillance programme (2007–09)

hence, different from other known IMP variants. PFGE showed that the three isolates belonged to a single strain; nevertheless, no epidemiological link was identified between the renal and haematology patients, or with hospitals elsewhere in the UK or overseas. This is the first identification of E. cloacae with an IMP carbapenemase in the UK based on submissions to HPA Microbiology Services, Colindale. It is part of a pattern whereby carbapenemase production is becoming more widespread in the Enterobacteriaceae, though, generally, KPC, NDM and VIM enzymes are more frequent than IMP types. – 6 The emergence of carbapenemases, which is often linked, as here, to resistance to multiple other drug classes, is a great public health concern. Producer strains should be actively sought to prevent their transmission among patients.