D De Geyter1, R Vanstokstraeten2, F Crombé2, J Tommassen3, I Wybo2, D Piérard2. 1. Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: Deborah.Degeyter@uzbrussel.be. 2. Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium. 3. Section Molecular Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections caused by VIM-encoded metallo-β-lactamase-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a major problem in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. A previous study conducted in the UZ Brussel hospital revealed that sink drains of the ICU were a possible source of various multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. AIM: To investigate the presence and persistence of VIM P. aeruginosa in the sink drains of the four adult ICUs and their role in nosocomial infections, emphasizing sink-to-patient transmission. METHODS: Thirty-six sinks located in the ICUs of the UZ Brussel were sampled and screened for the presence of VIM P. aeruginosa in August and October 2019. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on all positive sink drain isolates together with 61 isolates from patients who were retrospectively selected (ICU patients 2019-2020, N = 46; non-ICU patients 2019, N = 6). FINDINGS: Twenty sinks were found positive for P. aeruginosa at both sampling time-points. WGS revealed that the predominating environmental cluster belonged to sequence type ST111. Ten additional STs were identified. VIM-2 was detected among all ST17 (N = 2) and ST111 (N = 14) sink drain isolates. Based on whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing analysis of all genomes, 15 clusters of highly related isolates were identified, of which seven included both sink drain and clinical isolates. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that sink drains are a possible source of VIM-2 P. aeruginosa, probably after being contaminated with clinical waste from patients. Patients could be exposed to VIM-2 P. aeruginosa dispersed in their environment because of colonized sink drains.
BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections caused by VIM-encoded metallo-β-lactamase-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a major problem in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. A previous study conducted in the UZ Brussel hospital revealed that sink drains of the ICU were a possible source of various multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. AIM: To investigate the presence and persistence of VIM P. aeruginosa in the sink drains of the four adult ICUs and their role in nosocomial infections, emphasizing sink-to-patient transmission. METHODS: Thirty-six sinks located in the ICUs of the UZ Brussel were sampled and screened for the presence of VIM P. aeruginosa in August and October 2019. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on all positive sink drain isolates together with 61 isolates from patients who were retrospectively selected (ICU patients 2019-2020, N = 46; non-ICU patients 2019, N = 6). FINDINGS: Twenty sinks were found positive for P. aeruginosa at both sampling time-points. WGS revealed that the predominating environmental cluster belonged to sequence type ST111. Ten additional STs were identified. VIM-2 was detected among all ST17 (N = 2) and ST111 (N = 14) sink drain isolates. Based on whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing analysis of all genomes, 15 clusters of highly related isolates were identified, of which seven included both sink drain and clinical isolates. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that sink drains are a possible source of VIM-2 P. aeruginosa, probably after being contaminated with clinical waste from patients. Patients could be exposed to VIM-2 P. aeruginosa dispersed in their environment because of colonized sink drains.
Authors: Andreas F Wendel; Monika Malecki; Frauke Mattner; Kyriaki Xanthopoulou; Julia Wille; Harald Seifert; Paul G Higgins Journal: JAC Antimicrob Resist Date: 2022-05-20
Authors: Thi Mui Pham; Andrea C Büchler; Mirjam E Kretzschmar; Margreet C Vos; Anne F Voor In 't Holt; Juliëtte A Severin; Martin C J Bootsma; Diederik Gommers Journal: Antimicrob Resist Infect Control Date: 2022-04-04 Impact factor: 4.887