Zhen Xu1, Shiyan Liu1, Liqin Chen1, Yuting Liu2, Long Tan1, Jun Shen3, Wanqi Zhang1. 1. Tianjin Medical University, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preventive Medicine Education, Tianjin, China. 2. Tianjin Xiqing hospital, Tianjin, China. 3. Tianjin Medical University, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preventive Medicine Education, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: shenjun@tmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have emerged as one of the major nosocomial pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance has aggravated the problem. Sixteen million public shared bicycles (PSBs) were launched in China, and 106 million users were recorded. However, no standard clean strategy has been applied to PSBs in China, and no formal surveillance has been carried out. The objective of this study was to understand the diversity and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococcal species from PSBs. METHODS: Seventy-nine specimens and 128 isolates were collected from 79 PSBs in Tianjin city, China. Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular testing were performed to understand the species, antimicrobial resistance, carriage of mecA gene, and clonal lineage. RESULTS: Thirty-five staphylococcal isolates were identified, and 80% of staphylococci were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Seventeen (49%) staphylococci were mecA-positive. SCCmec type V (n = 5), SCCmec type 1A (n = 5), SCCmec type I (n = 3), SCCmec type III (n = 2), 1 SCCmec type II (n = 1), and SCCmec type IV (n = 1) were determined. In addition, Staphylococcus epidermidis ST5, ST35, ST234 and ST419 were determined, and a new ST (ST831) was also found. CONCLUSIONS: The Staphylococcus epidermidis group was prevalent among PSBs, and multiple resistant staphylococci were determined in this study. The diversity of SCCmec elements was observed, and PSBs may act as the reservoir for antimicrobial pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, additional studies are necessary to systematically understand the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in PSBs.
OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have emerged as one of the major nosocomial pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance has aggravated the problem. Sixteen million public shared bicycles (PSBs) were launched in China, and 106 million users were recorded. However, no standard clean strategy has been applied to PSBs in China, and no formal surveillance has been carried out. The objective of this study was to understand the diversity and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococcal species from PSBs. METHODS: Seventy-nine specimens and 128 isolates were collected from 79 PSBs in Tianjin city, China. Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular testing were performed to understand the species, antimicrobial resistance, carriage of mecA gene, and clonal lineage. RESULTS: Thirty-five staphylococcal isolates were identified, and 80% of staphylococci were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Seventeen (49%) staphylococci were mecA-positive. SCCmec type V (n = 5), SCCmec type 1A (n = 5), SCCmec type I (n = 3), SCCmec type III (n = 2), 1 SCCmec type II (n = 1), and SCCmec type IV (n = 1) were determined. In addition, Staphylococcus epidermidis ST5, ST35, ST234 and ST419 were determined, and a new ST (ST831) was also found. CONCLUSIONS: The Staphylococcus epidermidis group was prevalent among PSBs, and multiple resistant staphylococci were determined in this study. The diversity of SCCmec elements was observed, and PSBs may act as the reservoir for antimicrobial pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, additional studies are necessary to systematically understand the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in PSBs.
Authors: Gabriella Marincola; Olivia Liong; Christoph Schoen; Alaa Abouelfetouh; Aisha Hamdy; Freya D R Wencker; Tessa Marciniak; Karsten Becker; Robin Köck; Wilma Ziebuhr Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-06-17