Detection of different β-lactamases encoding genes, including blaNDM, and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in different water sources from Brazil.

Bacterial resistance occurs by spontaneous mutations or horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements, which represents a great concern. Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics is mainly due to the production of β-lactamases, and an important mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance is the acquisition plasmid determinants. The aim of this study was to verify the presence of β-lactamase-encoding genes and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in different water samples obtained from São Paulo state, Brazil. A high level of these resistance genes was detected, being the blaSHV, blaGES, and qnr the most prevalent. Besides that, the blaNDM gene, which codify an important and hazardous metallo-β-lactamase, was detected.