Molecular detection of carbapenemases in critical microorganisms since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru
Author(s)
Juan Ramírez-Illescas
Juan Pacori
Joshi Acosta
Luis Pampa-Espinoza
Javier Silva‐Valencia
Alicia Núñez-Llanos
Celinda Bendezú
Kevin Serrano
Martín Yagui
Working group in the national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
T Dijango
G. Rosas
Heyul Chavez
María J. Cano
A Urbano
Raquel Hernandez
Aaron Salazar
K Amaro
E Salazar
Juan David Figueroa
J Diaz
M Cruzado
Fernando Prı́ncipe
Beth Paredes
Carol Paucar
Roy Sandoval
María Eugenia Quevedo Chávez
Etelvina Archundia Sierra
Carlos Rodríguez Rojas
Calixto Librado Valera
Diego Fernando García Bohórquez
Georgina Salvador
Carolina Cucho-Espinoza
Jesús Huerta de Soto
R Pissani
T Huaytaya
Germán Brito Sosa
Thalía Amparito Dávila Vela
C. LUIS A. QUISPE
P Virna
Karina de Lourdes Serrano Paredes
A. Olivares
Pablo Berríos
Elizabeth Tapia
Javier Lagos-Servellón
Ana Paula Beltrán Moschione Castro
J Alva
Dolors Palacín
F Cárdenas
Noëlie Campos
Joselit Torres
M Rodrı́guez
E Mezarina
N Manchaca
Katty Castillo
Jorge E. Zambrano
L Tacanga
Irene Salinas
Alice Martin
Miguel Á. Ruiz
Miriam Cabrera Jiménez
Cristina Encinas
Javier Arias‐Díaz
Alejandra Rivera
Sergio Padilla
Nedeljko Tica
Mónica Gutiérrez
A Yovera
R Sipión
Manuel Ramos
Patricia Cornejo
Armando Sánchez Vargas
M Galindo
Rúben Ramos
Carla Cristina de Araújo
David Rufo
J Curo
G Shaveta
Agustín Urcia
O Fernández
Heidi Contreras
I Rivadeneyra
J Herrera
Ana M. Briones
Dalia María Soto Valdez
Jesus Pino
Ernest Gonzales
Gustavo Liendo-Polanco
D Cayulla
Roberto Palacios
Deborah Dos Reis Estrella
Nicolás M. Suárez
W. Ortiz
Date Issued
30 de octubre de 2025
Type
Article
Volume
7
Issue
6
Start Page
dlaf203
End Page
dlaf203
Abstract
Abstract Objective Identify and characterize carbapenemase genes in bacterial isolates of Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected through the National Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Program during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. Methods This retrospective, observational study analysed 2049 submitted due to suspected portability of carbapenemase genes, collected between January 2020 and August 2022. Samples were obtained from 61 hospitals in 18 of the 25 regions of Peru (72%) that participated in the National Surveillance AMR Program. Results Among the isolates, 860 were Enterobacterales, 771 were A. baumannii, and 418 were P. aeruginosa. Carbapenemase genes were detected in 1735 isolates (84,6%). The most prevalent genes identified were blaNDM (561, 78.13%) in Enterobacterales, blaOXA-24-like (488, 67.8%) in A. baumannii, and blaIMP (188, 63.3%) in P. aeruginosa. Notably, rare occurrences of blaNDM were identified in P. aeruginosa (5, 1.7%). Combinations of carbapenemase genes were identified including blaIMP + blaVIM in P. aeruginosa, with a rising trend, but also blaKPC + blaNDM (7, 1%) blaNDM + blaOXA-48-like (1, 0.14%), blaNDM + blaIMP (2, 0.3%), and blaNDM + blaVIM (2, 0.3%) in Enterobacterales; and blaOXA-23 + blaOXA-24-like (11, 1.5%), blaNDM + blaOXA-24-like (2, 0.3%), and blaNDM + blaOXA-58-like (1, 0.1%) in A. baumannii. Conclusion This study highlights the significant detection of carbapenemase genes and their combinations in Peru during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced AMR surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and targeted infection control strategies to address this critical public health threat.
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