Epidemiology of strains producing a carbapenemase or metallo-beta-lactamase in Vietnamese clinical settings in 2014-2017.

Little is known about the epidemiology of strains producing a carbapenemase or metallo-beta-lactamase in Vietnamese hospitals. This study analysed strains resistant to imipenem or meropenem that had been isolated from patients admitted to one of the largest hospitals in Vietnam in 2014-2017. Eighteen Vietnamese (VN) strains were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and their sequences compared with those of 17 strains carrying a carbapenemase or metallo-beta-lactamase in the database (db strains). Although the distribution of virulence factors did not differ significantly between VN and db strains, all 18 VN isolates harboured , phylogenetic analysis revealed a high clonality of the VN strains. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis suggested that the VN strains speciated relatively recently. Several prevalent clones of carbapenem-resistant have circulated within Vietnamese hospitals. Adequate measures are needed to prevent their further spread.