# Genomic characterization of bla OXA-48 –carrying IncL plasmids in Enterobacterales in Vietnam

## TL;DR

This paper reports the first genetic characterization of bla OXA-48-carrying Enterobacterales in Vietnam, highlighting the potential spread of antibiotic resistance.

## Contribution

The first genetic characterization of bla OXA-48-carrying Enterobacterales isolates in Vietnam is presented.

## Key findings

- Three clinical isolates from Vietnam were found to carry the bla OXA-48 gene on IncL plasmids.
- The plasmids are nearly identical and closely related to globally disseminated pOXA-48a-like plasmids.
- The findings emphasize the potential spread of bla OXA-48-carrying plasmids in Vietnam.

## Abstract

Carbapenem-hydrolyzing β-lactamase (carbapenemase) genes have been disseminated among bacteria worldwide; however, only a few instances of bacterial isolates harboring the carbapenemase gene
bla
OXA-48
have been reported in Vietnam. Here we report the first genetic characterization of
bla
OXA-48
–harboring
Enterobacterales
isolates in Vietnam. Three isolates—
Enterobacter hormaechei
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
, and
Escherichia coli
—were clinically collected in Hanoi between 2010 and 2015. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that these isolates carried
bla
OXA-48
on nearly identical IncL plasmids, closely related to globally disseminated pOXA-48a-like plasmids. Our findings highlight the potential spread of highly transmissible
bla
OXA-48
–carrying plasmids in Vietnam, emphasizing the importance of continued surveillance.