Epidemiological and Genetic Characteristics of Clinical Carbapenem-Resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> Strains in Guangdong Province, China
Yonggang Zhao, Dingqiang Chen, Kaichao Chen, Miaomiao Xie, Jiubiao Guo, Edward Wai‐Chi Chan, Lu Xie, Jingbo Wang, Enqi Chen, Sheng Chen, Weijun Chen, Lars Jelsbak
Abstract
Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) is a major concern in clinical settings worldwide, yet few genetic and epidemiological studies on CRPA strains have been performed in China. Here, we sequence and analyze the genomes of 416 P. aeruginosa strains from hospitals in China to elucidate the genetic, phenotypic, and transmission characteristics of CRPA strains and to identify the molecular signatures responsible for the observed increase in the prevalence of CRPA infections in China. These findings may provide new insight into the development of effective strategies for worldwide control of CRPA and minimize the occurrence of untreatable infections in clinical settings.