Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 15:49:101185.
doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2025.101185. eCollection 2025 Sep.

Carbapenemases producing gram-negative bacteria surveillance in Latin America and the caribbean: a retrospective observational study from 2015 to 2020

Marcelo Pillonetto  1   2 , Priscila Lamb Wink  3 , Roberto G Melano  3 , María Antonieta Jiménez-Pearson  4 , Nancy Lorena Melgarejo Touchet  5 , Sandra Yamile Saavedra Rojas  6 , Debora N O Kulek  7 , Andre Luiz Abreu  7 , Renata Tigulini Peral  7 , Rogerio Miorando  8 , Hatim Sati  9 , Genara Romero Thomas  3 , Marcelo Galas  3 , Pilar Ramon Pardo  3 , Carlos R V Kiffer  10 , Ana Paula D'Alincourt Carvalho Assef  11 ; CARBA-LAC Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Carbapenemases producing gram-negative bacteria surveillance in Latin America and the caribbean: a retrospective observational study from 2015 to 2020

Marcelo Pillonetto et al. Lancet Reg Health Am. .

Abstract

Background: The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria represents a public health threat, with carbapenem resistance exacerbating this challenge. This study investigates carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) across the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted across 12 LAC countries from 2015 to 2020. A total of 58,909 isolates were analyzed utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect key carbapenemases in Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii complex (ABC).

Findings: 47,804/58,909 (81.14%) carbapenemases were identified, with Brazil accounting for 73% of these. The majority were reported in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales-CRE (65.33%; 31,230/47,804), followed by carbapenem-resistant ABC-CRAB (22.05%; 10,542/47,804), and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa-CRPA (6050/47,804; 12.66%). Among CRE, bla KPC was the most detected gene (78.67%; 24,569/31,230), with Klebsiella pneumoniae being the most commonly associated species (75.9%). A relevant upward trend in bla NDM was observed. CRPA exhibited diverse profiles, with bla VIM (47.64%) being the most common. In CRAB, bla OXA-23 was found in 88.80% (9361/10,542) of isolates. Carbapenemase co-production was detected in 2.60% (1190/47,804) of isolates, with CRPA bla IMP + bla VIM being the most frequent.

Interpretation: This study highlights a high prevalence of CPB in LAC, with a stable trend in bla KPC but a rising trend in bla NDM. These findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened surveillance and public health interventions to combat carbapenemase-mediated resistance in the region.

Funding: None.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Carbapenemases; Latin America; Multidrug-resistant bacteria; Public health challenge.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relative percentage (%) of detected carbapenemases in each bacterial group for all countries, 2015–2020.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) detection rate (detected/tested) of blaKPC, blaNDM, and blaOXA-48-like genes per country. A) blaKPC B) blaNDM C) blaOXA-48-like.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) detection rate (detected/tested) of blaKPC, blaNDM, and blaIMP genes per country. A) blaKPC B) blaNDM C) blaIMP.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex (CRAB) detection rate (detected/tested) of blaKPC, blaNDM, and blaOXA-23 genes per country. A) blaKPC B) blaNDM C) blaOXA-23.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Temporal trend of blaKPC per 1000-hospital beds per semester for all countries from 2015 to 2020. HPC = 5.26 (95% CI: −0.54; 11.40); Stationary pattern–p = 0.071.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Temporal trend of blaNDM per 1000-hospital beds per semester for all countries from 2015 to 2020. HPC = 24.32 (95% CI: 22.26; 26.40); Increasing pattern–p < 0.0001.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Temporal trend of blaOXA”S” per 1000-hospital beds per semester in Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex (CRAB) for all countries from 2015 to 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Niu G., Li W. Next-generation drug discovery to combat antimicrobial resistance. Trends Biochem Sci. 2019;44:961–972. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization . World Health Organization; 2024. WHO bacterial priority pathogens list, 2024: bacterial pathogens of public health importance, to guide research, development, and strategies to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance.
    1. Suay-García B., Pérez-Gracia M.T. Present and future of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections. Antibiotics. 2019;8:122. - PMC - PubMed
    1. García-Betancur J.C., Appel T.M., Esparza G., et al. Update on the epidemiology of carbapenemases in Latin America and the Caribbean. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2021;19:197–213. - PubMed
    1. Thomas G.R., Corso A., Pasterán F., et al. Increased detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales bacteria in Latin America and the caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022;28:1–8. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources