Whole-Genome Analysis of -Bearing Isolates and -Positive Isolates Carrying from the Same Fresh Vegetables in China.

The global spread of colistin or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has been a pressing threat to public health. Members of Enterobacteriaceae, especially and have been prevalent foodborne pathogens and such pathogens from fresh vegetables have triggered foodborne illness in China. However, reports about CRE, especially from fresh vegetables, are still lacking. In this study, we identified five -positive and five -positive generic concurrently from five fresh vegetables in two markets from China, and four of the five also carried The 10 isolates were characterized with methods including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation, whole-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. All 10 isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). in five isolates and one carrying was located on similarly transferable IncX3 plasmids, while transferably untypable plasmids were the carriers of in four isolates from different types of vegetables/markets. in the four --positive was located on similarly non-conjugative IncHI2 MDR plasmids lacking transfer region. Notably, IS complex class 1 integron capable of capturing was found on all untypable plasmids from , and five copies of IS complex class 1 integron containing even occurred in one , which showed high-level carbapenem resistance. Plasmid and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the -positive and from fresh vegetables might be derived from animals and transmitted to humans via the food chain. The concurrence of -positive and carrying both and in different types of fresh vegetables eaten raw is alarming and threatens food safety. Sustained surveillance of these foodborne pathogens among fresh vegetables is urgent to ensure the health of food consumers. We report for the first time the concurrence of -positive and -bearing carrying from the same fresh vegetables.