The prevalence of CRE infections in health care settings has increased significantly in recent years, in part because these organisms are able to share plasmid-encoded resistance genes. Which method of horizontal gene transfer is most likely responsible for transfer of the plasmid between bacteria

Bacterial conjugation

Explanation:

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are different types of bacteria that lead to infections in healthcare settings. Moreover, a plasmid is a small piece of DNA that can replicate independently from the bacterial chromosome. Bacterial conjugation is a type of horizontal gene transfer by which plasmids are transferred from one bacterium referred to as 'donor' into another called 'recipient' by sex pili. Plasmid transfer is unidirectional and depends on physical contact between bacterial cells. In this case, it is expected that this type of DNA transport mechanism occurs among patients occupying the same rooms in healthcare settings.