Distribution and Spread of the Mobilized RND Efflux Pump Gene Cluster tmexCD-toprJ in Klebsiella pneumoniae from Different Sources

In this study, we screened the tmexCD-toprJ gene cluster among 1,541 samples obtained from patients, healthy individuals, companion animals, pigs, chicken, and pork and chicken meat in Yangzhou, China. As a result, nine strains from humans, animals, and foods were positive for tmexCD1-toprJ1, which was located on plasmids or the chromosome. Seven different sequence types (STs) were identified, including ST15 (n = 2), ST580, ST1944, ST2294, ST5982, ST6262 (n = 2), and ST6265. All the positive strains were clustered into two distinct clades, and they shared a 24,087-bp core structure of tmexCD1-toprJ1, bounded by IS26 in the same orientation. IS26 could facilitate rapid and wide dissemination of tmexCD1-toprJ1 in Enterobacteriaceae from various sources. IMPORTANCE Tigecycline has been regarded as one of the last-resort antibiotics available for the treatment of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. The plasmid-mediated resistance-nodulation-division–type efflux pump gene cluster tmexCD-toprJ is a newly identified tigecycline resistance determinant. In this study, we revealed that tmexCD-toprJ has disseminated among Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from poultry, food markets, and patients. It is critical to strengthen continuous monitoring, and control measures should be implemented to prevent the further dissemination of tmexCD-toprJ.