Dissemination and genetic context analysis of blaVIM-6 among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in Asian-Pacific Nations

VIM-6, previously reported in two strains from Singapore recovered in 2000, was detected in 16 isolates collected in 2006 in India (12 isolates), Indonesia (two), Korea and the Philippines (one each). High genetic variability was observed among VIM-6-producing isolates (12 ribotypes and 11 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types), but clones were observed in India and Indonesia; blaVIM-6-carrying integrons of 3.9 kb and 5 kb were detected, and two of five Indian hospitals yielded isolates with both integrons. These two integrons, blaVIM-6 was located in the first position, followed by blaOXA-10 and aacA4. The 5-kb integrons also harboured aadAl and a 331-bp open reading frame encoding a putative efflux pump.