Genomic comparative analysis of Enterobacter asburiae harbouring a conjugative blaIMI-6-plasmid isolated from a public garden in Switzerland.

Ambler class A IMI enzymes are minor carbapenemases primarily associated with the Enterobacter cloacae complex. Screening soil surfaces of a well-visited public garden revealed an IMI-6-producing Enterobacter asburiae ST657 near a trash can. The strain harboured a 163-kb conjugative IncFII(Yp) plasmid containing blaIMI-6 and putative virulence genes. WGS comparative analysis with other clinical and non-clinical E. asburiae ST657 showed that it was genetically related to strains from a patient in France (62 ΔSNPs) and from retail salad in Switzerland (79 ΔSNPs). This finding suggests possible trans-sectoral dissemination of IMI-producing bacteria raising concerns since they could further spread into the community.