Plasmid-mediated colistin resistance driven by the mcr-1 gene is of great clinical concern. Its diffusion in the hospital environment is unknown. We detected mcr-1-driven resistance in 8.3% of Enterobacteriaceae isolates from hospital surfaces in Italy, which might represent a reservoir of threatening nosocomial pathogens.
Keywords: Acinetobacter Iwoffii; Citrobacter freundii; Colistin resistance; Enterobacter agglomerans; Enterobacter cloacae; Escherichia coli; Italy; Klebsiella oxytoca; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas putida; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; hospitals; mcr-1; surface contamination.