Colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying mcr-1 and blaOXA-48 isolated at a paediatric hospital in Vietnam

Prevalence and clonal diversity of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae causing neonatal infections: A systematic review of 128 articles across 30 countries

BACKGROUND

Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most common pathogen causing neonatal infections, leading to high mortality worldwide. Along with increasing antimicrobial use in neonates, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) has emerged as a severe challenge for infection control and treatment. However, no comprehensive systematic review is available to describe the global epidemiology of neonatal CRKP infections. We therefore performed a systematic review of available data worldwide and combined a genome-based analysis to address the prevalence, clonal diversity, and carbapenem resistance genes of CRKP causing neonatal infections.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We performed a systematic review of studies reporting population-based neonatal infections caused by CRKP in combination with a genome-based analysis of all publicly available CRKP genomes with neonatal origins. We searched multiple databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane, bioRxiv, and medRxiv) to identify studies that have reported data of neonatal CRKP infections up to June 30, 2022. We included studies addressing the prevalence of CRKP infections and colonization in neonates but excluded studies lacking the numbers of neonates, the geographical location, or independent data on Klebsiella or CRKP isolates. We used narrative synthesis for pooling data with JMP statistical software. We identified 8,558 articles and excluding those that did not meet inclusion criteria. We included 128 studies, none of which were preprints, comprising 127,583 neonates in 30 countries including 21 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) for analysis. We found that bloodstream infection is the most common infection type in reported data. We estimated that the pooled global prevalence of CRKP infections in hospitalized neonates was 0.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2% to 0.3%). Based on 21 studies reporting patient outcomes, we found that the pooled mortality of neonatal CRKP infections was 22.9% (95% CI, 13.0% to 32.9%). A total of 535 neonatal CRKP genomes were identified from GenBank including Sequence Read Archive, of which 204 were not linked to any publications. We incorporated the 204 genomes with a literature review for understanding the species distribution, clonal diversity, and carbapenemase types. We identified 146 sequence types (STs) for neonatal CRKP strains and found that ST17, ST11, and ST15 were the 3 most common lineages. In particular, ST17 CRKP has been seen in neonates in 8 countries across 4 continents. The vast majority (75.3%) of the 1,592 neonatal CRKP strains available for analyzing carbapenemase have genes encoding metallo-β-lactamases and NDM (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase) appeared to be the most common carbapenemase (64.3%). The main limitation of this study is the absence or scarcity of data from North America, South America, and Oceania.

CONCLUSIONS

CRKP contributes to a considerable number of neonatal infections and leads to significant neonatal mortality. Neonatal CRKP strains are highly diverse, while ST17 is globally prevalent and merits early detection for treatment and prevention. The dominance of blaNDM carbapenemase genes imposes challenges on therapeutic options in neonates and supports the continued inhibitor-related drug discovery.

High prevalence of Escherichia coli co-harboring conjugative plasmids with colistin- and carbapenem resistance genes in a wastewater treatment plant in China

Emergence and dissemination of resistance to last-resort antibiotics such as carbapenem and colistin is a growing, global health concern. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) link human activities and the environment, can act as reservoirs and sources for emerging antibiotic resistance, and likely play a large role in antibiotic resistance transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate occurrence and characteristics of colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CCREC) in wastewater and sludge samples collected over a one-year period from different functional areas of an urban WWTP in Jinan city, Shandong, China. A total of 8 CCREC were isolated from 168 samples with selective agar and PCR, corresponding to high prevalence of 4.8%, co-harboring carbapenem resistance genes (bla_NDM) and colistin resistance gene (mcr-1) and subsequently whole-genome sequenced. Additionally, all isolates were multidrug-resistant by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and carried a variety of antibiotic resistance genes. Two isolates carrying virulence genes associated with avian pathogenic E. coli were identified, one belonging to the high-risk clone O101:H9-ST167. Southern blotting was used to characterize CCREC isolates and plasmids carrying bla_NDM-genes or mcr-1 could be transferred to a recipient strain E. coli J53 by in vitro conjugation assays. Resistance to other antibiotic classes were sporadically co-transferred to the transconjugant. Transposition of and mcr-1-carrying element from a transferable IncHI2-plasmid was observed among two CCREC clones isolated within 4 days of each other. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant CCREC capable of transferring their antibiotic resistance genotypes via conjugative plasmids is alarming. WWTPs bring bacteria from different sources together, providing opportunities for horizontal exchange of DNA among compatible hosts. Further dissemination of the colistin-, carbapenem-, or both colistin- and carbapenem resistant E. coli could lead to a serious threat to public health.

Genomic characterisation of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii in two intensive care units in Hanoi, Viet Nam: a prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Viet Nam has high rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) but little capacity for genomic surveillance. This study used whole genome sequencing to examine the prevalence and transmission of three key AMR pathogens in two intensive care units (ICUs) in Hanoi, Viet Nam.

METHODS

A prospective surveillance study of all adults admitted to ICUs at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Bach Mai Hospital was done between June 19, 2017, and Jan 16, 2018. Clinical and environmental samples were cultured on selective media, characterised with MALDI TOF mass spectrometry, and sequenced with Illumina. Phylogenies based on the de-novo assemblies (SPAdes) were constructed with MAFFT (PARsnp), Gubbins, and RAxML. Resistance genes were detected with Abricate against the US National Center for Biotechnology Information database.

FINDINGS

3153 Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from 369 patients were analysed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed predominant lineages within A baumannii (global clone 2, sequence types ST2 and ST571) and K pneumoniae (ST15, ST16, ST656, ST11, and ST147) isolates. Isolation from stool was most common with E coli (87·0%) followed by K pneumoniae (62·5%). Of the E coli, 85·0% carried a bla_CTX-M variant, while 81·8% of K pneumoniae isolates carried bla_NDM (54·4%), or bla_KPC (45·1%), or both. Transmission analysis with single nucleotide polymorphisms identified 167 clusters involving 251 (68%) of 369 patients, in some cases involving patients from both ICUs. There were no clear differences between the lineages or AMR genes recovered between the two ICUs.

INTERPRETATION

This study represents the largest prospective surveillance study of key AMR pathogens in Vietnamese ICUs. Clusters of closely related isolates in patients across both ICUs suggests recent transmission before ICU admission in other health-care settings or in the community.

FUNDING

UK Medical Research Council Newton Fund, Viet Nam Ministry of Science and Technology, Wellcome Trust, Academy of Medical Sciences, Health Foundation, and UK National Institute for Health and Care Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.

OXA-48-Like β-Lactamases: Global Epidemiology, Treatment Options, and Development Pipeline

Modern medicine is threatened by the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance, especially among Gram-negative bacteria, where resistance to β-lactams is most often mediated by β-lactamases. The penicillin and cephalosporin ascendancies were, in their turn, ended by the proliferation of TEM penicillinases and CTX-M extended-spectrum β-lactamases. These class A β-lactamases have long been considered the most important. For carbapenems, however, the threat is increasingly from the insidious rise of a class D carbapenemase, OXA-48, and its close relatives. Over the past 20 years, OXA-48 and "OXA-48-like" enzymes have proliferated to become the most prevalent enterobacterial carbapenemases across much of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East. OXA-48-like enzymes are notoriously difficult to detect because they often cause only low-level in vitro resistance to carbapenems, meaning that the true burden is likely underestimated. Despite this, they are associated with carbapenem treatment failures. A highly conserved incompatibility complex IncL plasmid scaffold often carries bla_OXA-48 and may carry other antimicrobial resistance genes, leaving limited treatment options. High conjugation efficiency means that this plasmid is sometimes carried by multiple Enterobacterales in a single patient. Producers evade most β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, though promising agents have recently been licensed, notably ceftazidime-avibactam and cefiderocol. The molecular machinery enabling global spread, current treatment options, and the development pipeline of potential new therapies for Enterobacterales that produce OXA-48-like β-lactamases form the focus of this review.

Expansion of KPC-producing Enterobacterales in four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of carbapenem resistance among nosocomial Gram-negative bacteria in Vietnam is high and increasing, including among Enterobacterales. In this study, we assessed the presence of one of the main carbapenemase genes, blaKPC, among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, between 2010 and 2015, and described their key molecular characteristics.

METHODS

KPC-producing Enterobacterales were detected using conventional PCR and were further analysed using S1 nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE), Southern blotting and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for sequence typing and genetic characterisation.

RESULTS

blaKPC genes were detected in 122 (20.4%) of 599 CRE isolates. blaKPC-carrying plasmids were diverse in size. Klebsiella pneumoniae harbouring blaKPC genes belonged to ST15 and ST11, whereas KPC-producing Escherichia coli showed more diverse sequence types including ST3580, ST448, ST709 and ST405. Genotypic relationships supported the hypothesis of circulation of a population of 'resident' resistant bacteria in one hospital through the years and of transmission among these hospitals via patient transfer. WGS results revealed co-carriage of several other antimicrobial resistance genes and three different genetic contexts of blaKPC-2. Among these, the combination of ISEcp1-blaCTX-M and ISKpn27-blaKPC-ΔISKpn6 on the same plasmid is reported for the first time.

CONCLUSION

We describe the dissemination of blaKPC-expressing Enterobacterales in four large hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, since 2010, which may have started earlier, along with their resistance patterns, sequence types, genotypic relationship, plasmid sizes and genetic context, thereby contributing to the overall picture of the antimicrobial resistance situation in Enterobacterales in Vietnam.

Clonal spread of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae among patients at admission and discharge at a Vietnamese neonatal intensive care unit

Background

The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a growing problem globally, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Previous studies have shown high rates of CRE colonisation among patients at hospitals in LMICs, with increased risk of hospital-acquired infections.

Methods

We isolated carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) from faecal samples collected in 2017 from patients at admission and discharge at a Vietnamese neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). 126 CRKP were whole-genome sequenced. The phylogenetic relationship between the isolates and between clinical CRKP isolates collected in 2012–2018 at the same hospital were investigated.

Results

NDM-type carbapenemase-(61%) and KPC-2-encoding genes (41%) were the most common carbapenem resistance genes observed among the admission and discharge isolates. Most isolates (56%) belonged to three distinct clonal clusters of ST15, carrying bla_KPC-2, bla_NDM-1 and bla_NDM-4, respectively. Each cluster also comprised clinical isolates from blood collected at the study hospital. The most dominant ST15 clone was shown to be related to isolates collected from the same hospital as far back as in 2012.

Conclusions

Highly resistant CRKP were found colonising admission and discharge patients at a Vietnamese NICU, emphasising the importance of continued monitoring. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a population of CRKP consisting mostly of ST15 isolates in three clonally related clusters, each related to blood isolates collected from the same hospital. Furthermore, clinical isolates collected from previous years (dating back to 2012) were shown to likely be clonally descended from ST15 isolates in the largest cluster, suggesting a successful hospital strain which can colonise inpatients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13756-021-01033-3.

Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with Farnesol or Geraniol to Enhance the Susceptibility of E. coli MCR-1 to Colistin

Resistance to colistin, one of the antibiotics of last resort against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, is increasingly reported. Notably, MCR plasmids discovered in 2015 have now been reported worldwide in humans. To keep this antibiotic of last resort efficient, a way to tackle this mechanism seems essential. Terpene alcohols such as farnesol have been shown to improve the efficacy of some antibiotics. However, their high lipophilicity makes them difficult to use. This problem can be solved by encapsulating them in water-dispersible lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The aim of this study was to discover, using checkerboard tests and time-kill curve experiments, an association between colistin and farnesol or geraniol loaded in LNPs, which would improve the efficacy of colistin against E. coli and, in particular, MCR-1 transconjugants. Then, the effect of the combination on E. coli inner membrane permeabilisation was evaluated using propidium iodide (PI) uptake and compared to human red blood cells plasma membrane permeabilisation. Both terpene alcohols were able to restore the susceptibility of E. coli J53 MCR-1 to colistin with the same efficacy (E_max = 16, i.e., colistin MIC was decreased from 8 to 0.5 mg/L). However, with an EC₅₀ of 2.69 mg/L, farnesol was more potent than geraniol (EC₅₀ = 39.49 mg/L). Time-kill studies showed a bactericidal effect on MCR-1 transconjugant 6 h after incubation, with no regrowth up to 30 h in the presence of 1 mg/L colistin (1/8 MIC) and 60 mg/L or 200 mg/L farnesol or geraniol, respectively. Colistin alone was more potent in increasing PI uptake rate in the susceptible strain (EC₅₀ = 0.86 ± 0.08 mg/L) than in the MCR-1 one (EC₅₀ = 7.38 ± 0.85 mg/L). Against the MCR-1 strain, farnesol-loaded LNP at 60 mg/L enhanced the colistin-induced inner membrane permeabilization effect up to 5-fold and also increased its potency as shown by the decrease in its EC₅₀ from 7.38 ± 0.85 mg/L to 2.69 ± 0.25 mg/L. Importantly, no hemolysis was observed for LNPs loaded with farnesol or geraniol, alone or in combination with colistin, at the concentrations showing the maximum decrease in colistin MICs. The results presented here indicate that farnesol-loaded LNPs should be studied as combination therapy with colistin to prevent the development of resistance to this antibiotic of last resort.

Characterization of a mcr-1 and CRISPR-Cas System Co-harboring Plasmid in a Carbapenemase-Producing High-Risk ST11 Klebsiella pneumoniae Strain

We set out to study the prevalence of the mcr-1 gene in carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP) strains, and to determine whether its presence is associated with a fitness cost. A total of 234 clinical CPKP isolates were collected from a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from January 2018 to January 2019. The mcr-1 and carbapenemase genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. The mcr-1-positive carbapenemase-producing strain was characterized by whole genome sequencing, a plasmid stability test and a conjugation assay. In vitro growth rate and an in vivo virulence test were compared between the parental mcr-1-positive strain and its mcr-1 plasmid-cured strain. We identified only one mcr-1 positive strain (KP2509), co-harboring bla KPC- 2 and bla OXA- 48, among 234 (1/234, 0.43%) CPKP strains. KP2509 and its Escherichia coli mcr-1 transconjugant showed moderate colistin resistance (MIC = 8 mg/L). The mcr-1 is located on a large conjugative plasmid (317 kb), pKP2509-MCR, with three replicons, IncHI, IncFIB, and IncN. Interestingly, a complete Type IV-A3 CRISPR-Cas system was identified in pKP2509-MCR. Plasmid pKP2509-MCR was highly stable in KP2509 after 270 generation of passage, and the pKP2509-MCR cured strain PC-KP2509 showed similar growth rate and in vivo virulence in comparison to KP2509. The prevalence of mcr-1 in CPKP strains remains low in our center. Notably, we identified a large plasmid with multiple replicons containing both the mcr-1 and the Type IV-3A CRISPR-Cas genes. The further spread of this highly stable plasmid raises concern that it may promote the increase of mcr-1 prevalence in CPKP.

Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of mcr-1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae in healthy adults from China

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the nationwide prevalence of mcr-1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae (MCRPKP) strains among healthy adults in China and identify their phenotypic and genomic characterizations.

METHODS

A total of 7401 rectal swab samples were collected from healthy individuals in 30 hospitals located in 30 provinces and municipalities of mainland China in 2016. Colistin-resistant bacteria were enriched in colistin-supplemented lysogeny broth. MCRPKP strains were isolated and characterized with MALDI-TOF MS, PCR analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The genomic characteristics of MCRPKP strains were determined by WGS and bioinformatics analysis.

RESULTS

Seven MCRPKP strains and one mcr-1-positive Klebsiella variicola strain were selectively isolated from six locales (three from Henan and one from each of Tianjin, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Gansu and Tibet). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing results indicated that all mcr-1-positive strains were susceptible to meropenem, aztreonam and ceftazidime/avibactam. WGS analysis suggested these strains belonged to seven distinct STs: ST15, ST1425, ST1462, ST273, ST307, ST391 and ST37-SLV. mcr-1 genes were carried by diverse plasmids, including IncHI2 (n = 3), IncX4 (n = 2), IncHI2/IncN (n = 1), IncFIB (n = 1) and one other plasmid type. Two ST15 strains harboured both mcr-1 and mcr-8 genes, which has not been reported before.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated a low prevalence of mcr-1-positive Klebsiella strains (0.11%, 8/7401) in healthy individuals in mainland China and most of these strains remained susceptible to clinically important antibiotics. The prevalence and coexistence of mcr-1 and mcr-8 in K. pneumoniae may further threaten public health through either the food chain or environmental routes.

Detection of MCR-1 Gene in Multiple Drug Resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Human Clinical Samples from Peshawar, Pakistan

BACKGROUND

The presence of plasmid mediated mcr-1 gene in multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria poses a serious public health concern in today's world.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was aimed to detect the presence of plasmid mediated mcr-1 encoding resistance to colistin in multiple drug resistant (MDR) E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates.

METHODS

A total of 180 clinical isolates of E. coli (n=120) and K. pneumoniae (n=60) were isolated from different clinical specimens, i.e., urine, blood, stool and pus, from diagnostic labs of two major public sector tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. MDR profile of these isolates was assessed through Kirby-Baur disc diffusion method. All isolates were screened for colistin resistance by dilution methods. Colistin resistant isolates were subjected to PCR for mcr-1 detection and confirmation was done by Sanger sequencing method.

RESULTS

Overall, 83.3% (100/120) E. coli and 93.3% (56/60) K. pneumoniae were detected as MDR. Colistin resistance was found in 23.3% (28/120) E. coli and 40% (24/60) K. pneumoniae isolates, whereas mcr-1 gene was detected in 10 out of 52 colistin resistant isolates, including six E. coli and four K. pneumoniae isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of colistin in these ten mcr-1 positive isolates ranged from 4μg/ml to 16μg/ml. All mcr-1 positive isolates showed 99% sequence similarity when compared with other present sequences in GenBank.

CONCLUSION

Hence, our study confirms the presence of mcr-1 mediated colistin resistance in the studied area. Therefore, urgently larger scale surveillance studies are recommended to investigate prevalence of mcr-1 mediated colistin resistance and to prevent its further spread in the area.

Genomic surveillance for hypervirulence and multi-drug resistance in invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae from South and Southeast Asia

BACKGROUND

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of bloodstream infection (BSI). Strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) or carbapenemases are considered global priority pathogens for which new treatment and prevention strategies are urgently required, due to severely limited therapeutic options. South and Southeast Asia are major hubs for antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) K. pneumoniae and also for the characteristically antimicrobial-sensitive, community-acquired "hypervirulent" strains. The emergence of hypervirulent AMR strains and lack of data on exopolysaccharide diversity pose a challenge for K. pneumoniae BSI control strategies worldwide.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective genomic epidemiology study of 365 BSI K. pneumoniae from seven major healthcare facilities across South and Southeast Asia, extracting clinically relevant information (AMR, virulence, K and O antigen loci) using Kleborate, a K. pneumoniae-specific genomic typing tool.

RESULTS

K. pneumoniae BSI isolates were highly diverse, comprising 120 multi-locus sequence types (STs) and 63 K-loci. ESBL and carbapenemase gene frequencies were 47% and 17%, respectively. The aerobactin synthesis locus (iuc), associated with hypervirulence, was detected in 28% of isolates. Importantly, 7% of isolates harboured iuc plus ESBL and/or carbapenemase genes. The latter represent genotypic AMR-virulence convergence, which is generally considered a rare phenomenon but was particularly common among South Asian BSI (17%). Of greatest concern, we identified seven novel plasmids carrying both iuc and AMR genes, raising the prospect of co-transfer of these phenotypes among K. pneumoniae.

CONCLUSIONS

K. pneumoniae BSI in South and Southeast Asia are caused by different STs from those predominating in other regions, and with higher frequency of acquired virulence determinants. K. pneumoniae carrying both iuc and AMR genes were also detected at higher rates than have been reported elsewhere. The study demonstrates how genomics-based surveillance-reporting full molecular profiles including STs, AMR, virulence and serotype locus information-can help standardise comparisons between sites and identify regional differences in pathogen populations.

Genomic surveillance for hypervirulence and multi-drug resistance in invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae from South and Southeast Asia

BACKGROUND

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of bloodstream infection (BSI). Strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) or carbapenemases are considered global priority pathogens for which new treatment and prevention strategies are urgently required, due to severely limited therapeutic options. South and Southeast Asia are major hubs for antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) K. pneumoniae and also for the characteristically antimicrobial-sensitive, community-acquired "hypervirulent" strains. The emergence of hypervirulent AMR strains and lack of data on exopolysaccharide diversity pose a challenge for K. pneumoniae BSI control strategies worldwide.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective genomic epidemiology study of 365 BSI K. pneumoniae from seven major healthcare facilities across South and Southeast Asia, extracting clinically relevant information (AMR, virulence, K and O antigen loci) using Kleborate, a K. pneumoniae-specific genomic typing tool.

RESULTS

K. pneumoniae BSI isolates were highly diverse, comprising 120 multi-locus sequence types (STs) and 63 K-loci. ESBL and carbapenemase gene frequencies were 47% and 17%, respectively. The aerobactin synthesis locus (iuc), associated with hypervirulence, was detected in 28% of isolates. Importantly, 7% of isolates harboured iuc plus ESBL and/or carbapenemase genes. The latter represent genotypic AMR-virulence convergence, which is generally considered a rare phenomenon but was particularly common among South Asian BSI (17%). Of greatest concern, we identified seven novel plasmids carrying both iuc and AMR genes, raising the prospect of co-transfer of these phenotypes among K. pneumoniae.

CONCLUSIONS

K. pneumoniae BSI in South and Southeast Asia are caused by different STs from those predominating in other regions, and with higher frequency of acquired virulence determinants. K. pneumoniae carrying both iuc and AMR genes were also detected at higher rates than have been reported elsewhere. The study demonstrates how genomics-based surveillance-reporting full molecular profiles including STs, AMR, virulence and serotype locus information-can help standardise comparisons between sites and identify regional differences in pathogen populations.

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of clinical isolates belonging to a KPC-2-producing strain of ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae from a Vietnamese pediatric hospital

Background

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are becoming increasingly common in hospital settings worldwide and are a source of increased morbidity, mortality and health care costs. The global epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae is characterized by different strains distributed geographically, with the strain ST258 being predominant in Europe and USA, and ST11 being most common in East Asia. ST15 is a less frequently occurring strain but has nevertheless been reported worldwide as a source of hospital outbreaks of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae.

Methods

In this study, whole-genome sequencing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was used to characterize 57 clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae belonging to a strain of ST15, which were collected at a Vietnamese pediatric hospital from February throughout September 2015.

Results

Aside from the carbapenem resistance gene bla_KPC-2, which was carried by all isolates, prevalence of resistance genes to other antibiotics including aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, fosfomycin and trimethoprim, was also high. All isolates were multidrug-resistant. Susceptibility was highest to ceftazidime/avibactam (96%), gentamicin (91%) and tigecycline (82%). Notably, the colistin resistance rate was very high (42%). Single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis indicated that most isolates belonged to a single clone.

Conclusions

The diverse variety of antibiotic resistance genes and the high antibiotic resistance rates to last-resort antibiotics such as carbapenems and colistin, is indicative of a highly adaptable strain. This emphasizes the importance of implementation of infection controls measures, continued monitoring of antibiotic resistance and prudent use of antibiotics to prevent further selection of resistant strains and the emergence of pan-resistant clones.

High prevalence of colonisation with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae among patients admitted to Vietnamese hospitals: Risk factors and burden of disease

BACKGROUND

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is an increasing problem worldwide, but particularly problematic in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) due to limitations of resources for surveillance of CRE and infection prevention and control (IPC).

METHODS

A point prevalence survey (PPS) with screening for colonisation with CRE was conducted on 2233 patients admitted to neonatal, paediatric and adult care at 12 Vietnamese hospitals located in northern, central and southern Vietnam during 2017 and 2018. CRE colonisation was determined by culturing of faecal specimens on selective agar for CRE. Risk factors for CRE colonisation were evaluated. A CRE admission and discharge screening sub-study was conducted among one of the most vulnerable patient groups; infants treated at an 80-bed Neonatal ICU from March throughout June 2017 to assess CRE acquisition, hospital-acquired infection (HAI) and treatment outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 1165 (52%) patients were colonised with CRE, most commonly Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 805), Escherichia coli (n = 682) and Enterobacter spp. (n = 61). Duration of hospital stay, HAI and treatment with a carbapenem were independent risk factors for CRE colonisation. The PPS showed that the prevalence of CRE colonisation increased on average 4.2% per day and mean CRE colonisation rates increased from 13% on the day of admission to 89% at day 15 of hospital stay. At the NICU, CRE colonisation increased from 32% at admission to 87% at discharge, mortality was significantly associated (OR 5·5, P < 0·01) with CRE colonisation and HAI on admission.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that there is an epidemic spread of CRE in Vietnamese hospitals with rapid transmission to hospitalised patients.