Fecal Carriage of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase and Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Strains in Patients with Colorectal Cancer in the Oncology Unit of Amizour Hospital, Algeria: A Prospective Cohort Study

Fecal carriage of carbapenemase and AmpC-β-lactamase producers among extended spectrum β-Lactamase-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates in patients attending hospitals

BACKGROUND

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), particularly Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, have been consistently associated with treatment failure, high mortality and morbidity. The emergence of carbapenem resistance among ESBL-PE strains exacerbates the antimicrobial resistance. However, data are very limited in developing countries as Burkina Faso. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of carbapenemase and AmpC-β-lactamase production among ESBL-producing E. coli (ESBL-Ec) and Klebsiella spp. (ESBL-K) isolated from patients' stool in Burkina Faso.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2020 to June 2022, we isolated 277 ESBL-PE from patients' stool in five hospitals in Burkina Faso. The strains were isolated on ESBL-selective chromogenic media and identified using API20E. The isolates were tested against 15 antimicrobial agents using the disc-diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar. ESBL production was confirmed by double disc synergy method. Carbapenemase and AmpC-β-lactamase production and phenotypic co-resistance were determined.

RESULTS

Among the 277 ESBL-PE strains isolated, 203 were E. coli, and 74 were Klebsiella spp. Of these bacteria, 2.9% were carbapenemase producers and 6.5% were AmpC-β-lactamase producers. The carbapenemase producers were detected at tertiary and secondary hospitals, mainly in hospitalized patients and females, whereas AmpC-β-lactamase producers were detected at all levels of healthcare, predominantly in non-hospitalized patients, male, and under 15 years of age. The co-resistance rates were as high as 82% for fluoroquinolones, 91% for aminoglycosides, and 94% for sulfonamides. Fosfomycin resistance was 2.5% for ESBL-Ec and 50% for ESBL-K.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that ESBL-PEs co-produce carbapenemase and/or AmpC-β-lactamase. High co-resistances were reported for commonly used antibiotic agents. Therefore, screening for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) carriage is necessary to limit its spread within hospitals.

The Importance of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales in African Countries: Evolution and Current Burden

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide healthcare problem. Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) can spread quickly owing to their resistance mechanisms. Although colonized individuals are crucial for MDRO dissemination, colonizing microbes can lead to symptomatic infections in carriers. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are among the most important MDROs involved in colonizations and infections with severe outcomes. This review aimed to track down the first reports of CPE in Africa, describe their dissemination throughout African countries and summarize the current status of CRE and CPE data, highlighting current knowledge and limitations of reported data. Two database queries were undertaken using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), employing relevant keywords to identify articles that had as their topics beta-lactamases, carbapenemases and carbapenem resistance pertaining to Africa or African regions and countries. The first information on CPE could be traced back to the mid-2000s, but data for many African countries were established after 2015-2018. Information is presented chronologically for each country. Although no clear conclusions could be drawn for some countries, it was observed that CPE infections and colonizations are present in most African countries and that carbapenem-resistance levels are rising. The most common CPE involved are Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, and the most prevalent carbapenemases are NDM-type and OXA-48-type enzymes. Prophylactic measures, such as screening, are required to combat this phenomenon.

Whole Genome Sequencing of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Neonatal Bloodstream Infections at a Neonatal Care Unit, Algeria

Aims: Neonatal bloodstream infections (BSIs) are an important cause of mortality among neonates. Besides, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) is one of the most frequent pathogens causing neonatal BSIs. This study aimed to characterize ESBL-Kp strains recovered from neonatal BSI and to investigate risk factors associated with ESBL-Kp BSI at the neonatal care unit of Elmeki Hospital, Bejaia, Algeria. Methodology: After isolation, identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing, the ESBL-Kp strains were characterized by whole genome sequencing. The genomes were then analyzed using bioinformatic tools to determine the resistome, virulome, and phylogenetic relatedness. Results: From September 2019 to May 2020, 27 (8.2%) out of 328 neonates were infected by ESBL-Kp strains. These strains displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype, and on further investigation, were found to carry an array of antibiotic resistance genes. All ESBL-Kp strains harbored the bla_CTX-M-15 gene. Using in silico multilocus sequence typing analysis, six sequence types (STs) were detected with ST268 being the most frequent (56%, n = 15) indicating a local outbreak, confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. The yersiniabactin and colibactin gene clusters were identified in six and two ESBL-Kp strains, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of CTX-M-15-producing K. pneumoniae strains coharboring different antibiotic resistance mechanisms from neonatal BSIs in Algeria. Screening of health care personnel and mothers for ESBL carriage before delivery, isolation of carriers, barrier precautions, antimicrobial usage, and control of hygiene are needed to prevent the dissemination of these pathogens.