Detection of the plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene in clinical KPC-2-producing Escherichia coli isolates in Brazil

This study reports the first detection of mcr-1 in KPC-2-producing clinical E. coli isolates in Brazil and emphasises the importance of microbiological and molecular surveillance to avoid the spread of these genes in this country. The detection of successful E. coli clones containing mcr-1 and β-lactamase genes in conjugative plasmids highlights a possible joint dissemination of colistin and carbapenem resistance in Brazilian hospitals, where KPC is already worrisome.