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Carbapenem-resistant bacteria in the environment Cover
Open Access
|Jun 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Carbapenem-resistant bacterial species from river sediment cultured on CHROMagar Acinetobacter. Red – Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas sp. (similar to Acinetobacter but of different morphology). Blue – Enterobacterales
Carbapenem-resistant bacterial species from river sediment cultured on CHROMagar Acinetobacter. Red – Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas sp. (similar to Acinetobacter but of different morphology). Blue – Enterobacterales

Figure 2

Recommended protocol for the detection and characterisation of CRB from the environment
Recommended protocol for the detection and characterisation of CRB from the environment

Figure 3

Mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in environmental isolates (drawing created with bioRender). 1) overexpression of the efflux pump; 2) reduced porin activity; 3) carbapenemase-catalysed reactions (carbapenem hydrolysis)
Mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in environmental isolates (drawing created with bioRender). 1) overexpression of the efflux pump; 2) reduced porin activity; 3) carbapenemase-catalysed reactions (carbapenem hydrolysis)

Figure 4

Possible transmission routes and reservoirs of CRB in the natural environment (drawing created with bioRender). 1) discharge of untreated hospital and urban sewage; 2) hospital and urban sewage that goes through WWTP but is released as partially treated effluent; 3) transmission of CRB through animals and ready-to eat-vegetables
Possible transmission routes and reservoirs of CRB in the natural environment (drawing created with bioRender). 1) discharge of untreated hospital and urban sewage; 2) hospital and urban sewage that goes through WWTP but is released as partially treated effluent; 3) transmission of CRB through animals and ready-to eat-vegetables

Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem according to EUCAST (48) and CLSI (49) criteria for clinically relevant CRE, CRA, and carbapenem-resistant P_ aeruginosa

MIC values (mg/mL)
EnterobacteralesAcinetobacter spp.Pseudomonas spp.
EUCASTCLSIEUCASTCLSIEUCASTCLSI
ImipenemS≤2S≤1S≤2S≤2S≤0.001S≤22
R>4R≥4R>4R≥8R>4R≥82
MeropenemS≤21S≤1S≤21S≤2S≤21,2S≤22
R>81R≥4R>81R≥8R>81,2R≥82
ErtapenemS≤0.5S≤0.5----
R>0.5R≥2----
DoripenemS≤1S≤1S ≤0.001S≤2S≤0.001S≤22
R>2R≥4R>2R≥8R>2R≥82

Literature reports of CRB presence in different environmental samples

SpeciesSample typeReference
A. baumannii, EnterobacteralesHospital environment (sheets, bed rail, bedside table, keyboard, devices, ventilator tube, air sample, air conditioner, sheets and infusion pump)(88,89,90, 92, 93)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosaHospital sewage(44, 95, 96)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosaUrban sewage(96, 97)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, Pseudomonas sp.River water and sediment(30, 32, 104, 126)
Klebsiella spp., Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp. E. coliSea water and sediment(109, 110)
E. asburiaeLake water(108)
A. baumanniiSoil(111)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. cloacaeHospital WWTP(98, 102)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. coliUrban WWTP(43, 100)
A. baumannii, E. coliCompanion animals(113, 115)
K. pneumoniaeDomestic animals(118)
K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. coliReady-to-eat vegetables(121, 122)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3956 | Journal eISSN: 1848-6312 | Journal ISSN: 0004-1254
Language: English, Croatian, Slovenian
Page range: 87 - 101
Submitted on: Feb 1, 2025
Accepted on: May 1, 2025
Published on: Jun 30, 2025
Published by: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 times per year

© 2025 Blanka Dadić, Jasna Hrenović, Tomislav Ivanković, published by Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.