TITLE:
Phenotypic and Molecular Profiles of Carbapenem Resistance in Community Infections in the Southern Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Hichika Tshikolasony, Kimuni Kamona, Ilunga Eric Kasamba
KEYWORDS:
Carbapenem Resistance, Carbapenemase, blaNDM, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Community-Onset Infection
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
10,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Carbapenem resistance is an increasing threat, but combined phenotypic and molecular data from community-onset infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo remain scarce. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 272 non-duplicate bacterial isolates recovered from urine, pus, and sputum specimens collected between April 2023 and May 2025 in southern Democratic Republic of Congo. Susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem was assessed by disk diffusion and interpreted using EUCAST version 15.0. All 46 imipenem-resistant isolates underwent multiplex PCR for blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, blaKPC, blaVIM, and blaIMP. Associations were explored using Fisher’s exact test and crude odds ratios. Results: Urine accounted for 212/272 specimens (77.9%), pus for 40/272 (14.7%), and sputum for 20/272 (7.4%). Escherichia coli was the most frequent species (112/272; 41.2%). Resistance was observed in 46/272 isolates for imipenem (16.9%; 95% CI 12.9 - 21.8) and 22/272 for meropenem (8.1%; 95% CI 5.4 - 11.9). Among the 46 isolates tested by PCR, blaNDM was detected in 18 (39.1%), blaOXA-48-like in 12 (26.1%), blaKPC in 7 (15.2%), blaVIM in 5 (10.9%), and blaIMP in 2 (4.3%); no target was detected in 2 isolates (4.3%). An exploratory association was observed between blaVIM and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.10 - 16.0; p = 0.03). Conclusion: Carbapenem resistance and clinically important carbapenemase genes were present among community-onset isolates. The findings support strengthened phenotypic and molecular surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and laboratory capacity.