RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Shiroto, Katsuaki A1 Ishii, Yoshikazu A1 Kimura, Soichiro A1 Alba, Jimena A1 Watanabe, Kiwao A1 Matsushima, Yoshiko A1 Yamaguchi, KeizoYR 2005 T1 Metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1 in Providencia rettgeri from two different hospitals in Japan JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 54 IS 11 SP 1065 OP 1070 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.46194-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB In 2002, 495 indole-positive proteae strains were isolated from patients at 60 hospitals in Japan. Nine indole-positive proteae strains had reduced susceptibility to imipenem (MIC ⩾ 8 μg ml−1) and were identified as Providencia rettgeri by BD Phoenix. Eight of the nine Prov. rettgeri isolates were confirmed as metallo-β-lactamase producers by the double-disc synergy test. All the metallo-β-lactamases were classified as IMP-1 by PCR and DNA sequence analysis. These bla IMP−1 genes were encoded in the integron structure on conjugative plasmids. These plasmids could transfer from Prov. rettgeri clinical isolates to Escherichia coli ML4903 at a frequency between 1.5 × 10−5 and 5.5 × 10−7. The eight bla IMP-positive strains were isolated from two hospitals, and showed two different PFGE patterns, two different integron structures and two different incompatibility groups, which corresponded to the two hospitals. These results strongly suggest the possibility of nosocomial infections by bla IMP−1-producing Prov. rettgeri isolates., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.46194-0