MCR 1 Gene

Key Points:

1. Mcr-1 gene seen in K. pneumoniae bacteria
2. mobilized colistin resistance (mcr-1) gene that confers multidrug-resistance has now been reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria
3. This gene endows resistance against last hope antibiotic — colistin
4. The mcr-1 gene is usually found in the plasmid (small DNA in the cytoplasm)
5. Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is an antibiotic produced by certain strains of the bacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa.
6. Colistin has also been used recently to treat ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and bacteremia caused by MDR bacteria, such as P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii.