Linda Falgenhauer1, Patrice Nordmann2, Can Imirzalioglu3, Yancheng Yao3, Jane Falgenhauer3, Anja M Hauri4, Petra Heinmüller4, Trinad Chakraborty5. 1. Institute of Medical Microbiology, and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany; Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. 2. Medical and Molecular Microbiology, Section of Medicine, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; INSERM European Unit (IAME, France), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Swiss National Reference Center for Emerging Antibiotic Resistance (NARA), University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland. 3. Institute of Medical Microbiology, and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. 4. Department of Epidemiology, Hesse Health Office, Dillenburg, Germany. 5. Institute of Medical Microbiology, and German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Giessen-Marburg-Langen, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: trinad.chakraborty@mikrobio.med.uni-giessen.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria cause infections that are difficult to treat and represent a rising threat to healthcare systems worldwide. This study analysed isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a species associated with nosocomial-acquired and community-acquired infections, from hospitals in Germany and Switzerland exhibiting a slight decrease in susceptibility to carbapenems. METHODS: E. coli strains from Germany and Switzerland, obtained mainly in 2019, were first screened for carbapenemase genes by PCR and subsequently whole-genome-sequenced and analysed for their clonal relationship using multilocus sequence typing, single nucleotide polymorphisms, virulence and antibiotic-resistance gene content. RESULTS: The analysis revealed the presence of extended β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli clones producing OXA-244, a point-mutation derivative of OXA-48, with a predominance of isolates exhibiting the sequence type (ST) ST38 in both Germany and Switzerland. These clustered exclusively into two distinct lineages: one encoding CTX-M-27, a recently emerged extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and the other CTX-M-14b. All OXA244/CTX-M-27 ST38 isolates harboured the Dr adhesin operon and a representative isolate exhibited a diffuse adherence (DAEC) phenotype and was invasive for Hela cells. CONCLUSION: Clonal lineages of ST38 are members of E. coli phylogenetic group D commonly associated with extra-intestinal infections. Their increased isolation in two different European countries indicates ongoing spread of ST38 ESBL-producing and OXA-244-producing E. coli clonal lineages. It is possible that members of the multidrug-resistant DEAC ExPEC group have expanded globally, but that this is currently underreported because of the inherent difficulty in detecting isolates expressing the OXA-244 allele.
BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria cause infections that are difficult to treat and represent a rising threat to healthcare systems worldwide. This study analysed isolates of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a species associated with nosocomial-acquired and community-acquired infections, from hospitals in Germany and Switzerland exhibiting a slight decrease in susceptibility to carbapenems. METHODS:E. coli strains from Germany and Switzerland, obtained mainly in 2019, were first screened for carbapenemase genes by PCR and subsequently whole-genome-sequenced and analysed for their clonal relationship using multilocus sequence typing, single nucleotide polymorphisms, virulence and antibiotic-resistance gene content. RESULTS: The analysis revealed the presence of extended β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli clones producing OXA-244, a point-mutation derivative of OXA-48, with a predominance of isolates exhibiting the sequence type (ST) ST38 in both Germany and Switzerland. These clustered exclusively into two distinct lineages: one encoding CTX-M-27, a recently emerged extended-spectrum β-lactamase, and the other CTX-M-14b. All OXA244/CTX-M-27 ST38 isolates harboured the Dr adhesin operon and a representative isolate exhibited a diffuse adherence (DAEC) phenotype and was invasive for Hela cells. CONCLUSION: Clonal lineages of ST38 are members of E. coli phylogenetic group D commonly associated with extra-intestinal infections. Their increased isolation in two different European countries indicates ongoing spread of ST38 ESBL-producing and OXA-244-producing E. coli clonal lineages. It is possible that members of the multidrug-resistant DEAC ExPEC group have expanded globally, but that this is currently underreported because of the inherent difficulty in detecting isolates expressing the OXA-244 allele.
Authors: Sara E Boyd; Alison Holmes; Richard Peck; David M Livermore; William Hope Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2022-07-20 Impact factor: 5.938
Authors: Yancheng Yao; Linda Falgenhauer; Jane Falgenhauer; Anja M Hauri; Petra Heinmüller; Eugen Domann; Trinad Chakraborty; Can Imirzalioglu Journal: Front Cell Infect Microbiol Date: 2021-11-11 Impact factor: 5.293