Novel IncR/IncP6 Hybrid Plasmid pCRE3-KPC Recovered from a Clinical KPC-2-Producing Citrobacter braakii Isolate

Reports of human-pathogenic C. braakii strains, especially of strains showing resistance to carbapenems, are rare. To the best of our knowledge, our results represent the first detection of carbapenemase gene bla KPC-2 in C. braakii strains. In addition, we have studied detailed genetic characteristics of the novel IncR/IncP6 hybrid plasmid pCRE3-KPC, which was isolated from a clinical multidrug-resistant Citrobacter braakii CRE3 strain. Our results may provide further insight into the horizontal transfer of multidrug resistance genes in bacteria and into the genomic diversity and molecular evolution of plasmids.