Emergence of Escherichia coli ST131 carrying carbapenemase genes, European Union/European Economic Area, August 2012 to May 2024

Abstract

Analysis of 594 isolates of Escherichia coli sequence type (ST)131 and its single locus variants carrying carbapenemase genes from 17 European Union/European Economic Area countries revealed acquisition of 18 carbapenemase variants, mainly in ST131 clades A and C. Most frequent were blaOXA-244 (n = 230) and blaOXA-48 (n = 224), detected in 14 and 12 countries, respectively. Isolates carrying blaOXA-244 have increased rapidly since 2021. The increasing detection of carbapenemase genes in the E. coli high-risk lineage ST131 is a public health concern.