Detection of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase (blaNDM) and Oxacillinase (blaOXA-48) Genes in Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae from Jazan

Scientists have detected high prevalence of carbapenemase genes among drug-resistant bacteria in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about the spread of last-resort antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings.

A study published in April 2026 analyzed clinical specimens collected from patients admitted to Jazan General Hospital between December 2023 and May 2024. Of the 426 Enterobacterial isolates identified, 53 (12.4%) were phenotypically confirmed as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

Among the CRE isolates, 14 (26.4%) were found to carry carbapenemase genes, classifying them as carbapenemase-positive Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Molecular testing revealed that the blaNDM gene was present in 71.4% of CPE strains, while blaOXA-48 was detected in 42.9%. The blaVIM gene was identified in only 7.1% of isolates, and neither blaKPC nor blaIMP were detected in any of the samples.

Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most prevalent organism among CPE strains, accounting for 42.9%, followed by Escherichia coli (28.6%), Enterobacter cloacae (21.4%), and Serratia marcescens (7.1%). In the carbapenemase-negative Enterobacteriaceae (CNE) group, which made up 73.6% of CRE isolates, K. Pneumoniae remained dominant at 62%, with 15% of those strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL).