American Society for Microbiology, mSystems, 5(5), 2020
DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00459-20
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Dominant F-type plasmids harboring the gene have been pointed out to be responsible for the dissemination of the CTX-M extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae . Recently, the emergence of K. pneumoniae isolates with the bla CTX-M gene in their chromosomes has been reported occasionally worldwide. Such a chromosomal location of the resistance gene could be beneficial for stable propagation, as was the Acinetobacter baumannii ST191 harboring chromosomal bla OXA-23 that is endemic to South Korea. Through the present study, particular clones were identified as having built-in resistance genes in their chromosomes, and the chromosomal integration events were tracked by assessing their genomes. The cefotaxime-resistant K. pneumoniae clones of this study were particularized as results of the fastidiousness for plasmids to acquire the bla CTX-M gene for securing the diversity and of the chromosomal addiction of the bla CTX-M gene for ensuring propagation.