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Gheorghe-Barbu I, Surleac M, Barbu IC, Paraschiv S, Bănică LM, Rotaru LI, Vrâncianu CO, Niță Lazăr M, Oțelea D, Chifiriuc MC. Decoding the resistome, virulome and mobilome of clinical versus aquatic Acinetobacter baumannii in southern Romania. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33372. [PMID: 39035534 PMCID: PMC11259834 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii, a notorious opportunistic pathogen, presents a formidable challenge in both clinical and environmental fields due to its resilience and ability to acquire resistance. This study undertook a comprehensive analysis of 183 A. baumannii isolates collected between 2019 and 2022 from intra-hospital infections (IHI), hospital sewages (Hs), wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), and adjacent river waters from two Southern cities, focusing on their resistome, virulome, and mobilome through isolation on chromogenic media, identification by MALDI-TOF-MS and antibiotic susceptibility testing by disk diffusion) followed by genotypic characterization [Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), 3rd generation sequencing through the MinION (ONT) platform, pangenome description, and respectively horizontal gene transfer through conjugation assays]. Our findings reveal significant genomic plasticity and the prevalence of high-risk international clones, underlining the potential of these isolates to act as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that could be dynamically exchanged between clinical and environmental settings through mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as the pMAL1 plasmids and the critical role of WWTPs in the persistence and spread of A. baumannii. Moreover, our study presents the first report of the co-occurrence of bla OXA-23 and bla OXA-72 in A. baumannii ST2 clone. Thus, our research underscores the necessity for integrated surveillance and targeted interventions across healthcare and environmental sectors to mitigate the risk posed by this adaptable pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gheorghe-Barbu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius Surleac
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilda Czobor Barbu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Paraschiv
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Liviu-Iulian Rotaru
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Ovidiu Vrâncianu
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, 296 Splaiul Independentei, District 6, 060031 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Niță Lazăr
- National Institute for Research and Development for Industrial Ecology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dan Oțelea
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases, “Matei Balș’‘, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- Department of Microbiology and Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
- Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
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Peykov S, Strateva T. Whole-Genome Sequencing-Based Resistome Analysis of Nosocomial Multidrug-Resistant Non-Fermenting Gram-Negative Pathogens from the Balkans. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030651. [PMID: 36985224 PMCID: PMC10051916 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB), such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, are among the major opportunistic pathogens involved in the global antibiotic resistance epidemic. They are designated as urgent/serious threats by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and are part of the World Health Organization’s list of critical priority pathogens. Also, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is increasingly recognized as an emerging cause for healthcare-associated infections in intensive care units, life-threatening diseases in immunocompromised patients, and severe pulmonary infections in cystic fibrosis and COVID-19 individuals. The last annual report of the ECDC showed drastic differences in the proportions of NFGNB with resistance towards key antibiotics in different European Union/European Economic Area countries. The data for the Balkans are of particular concern, indicating more than 80% and 30% of invasive Acinetobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively, to be carbapenem-resistant. Moreover, multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant S. maltophilia from the region have been recently reported. The current situation in the Balkans includes a migrant crisis and reshaping of the Schengen Area border. This results in collision of diverse human populations subjected to different protocols for antimicrobial stewardship and infection control. The present review article summarizes the findings of whole-genome sequencing-based resistome analyses of nosocomial multidrug-resistant NFGNBs in the Balkan countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavil Peykov
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 8, Dragan Tzankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, 2, Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
- BioInfoTech Laboratory, Sofia Tech Park, 111, Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (T.S.); Tel.: +359-87-6454492 (S.P.); +359-2-9172750 (T.S.)
| | - Tanya Strateva
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Sofia, 2, Zdrave Str., 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence: (S.P.); (T.S.); Tel.: +359-87-6454492 (S.P.); +359-2-9172750 (T.S.)
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Gheorghe I, Barbu IC, Surleac M, Sârbu I, Popa LI, Paraschiv S, Feng Y, Lazăr V, Chifiriuc MC, Oţelea D, Zhiyong Z. Subtypes, resistance and virulence platforms in extended-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Romanian isolates. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13288. [PMID: 34168184 PMCID: PMC8225882 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92590-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged worldwide as a dominant pathogen in a broad range of severe infections, raising an acute need for efficient antibacterials. This is the first report on the resistome and virulome of 33 extended drug-resistant and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (XDR CRAB) strains isolated from hospitalized and ambulatory patients in Bucharest, Romania. A total of 33 isolates were collected and analyzed using phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility and conjugation assays, PCR, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST). All isolates were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), being susceptible only to colistin. The carbapenem resistance was attributed by PCR mainly to blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-23 genes. PFGE followed by MLST analysis demonstrated the presence of nine pulsotypes and six sequence types. WGS of seven XDR CRAB isolates from healthcare-associated infections demonstrated the high diversity of resistance genes repertoire, as well as of mobile genetic elements, carrying ARGs for aminoglycosides, sulphonamides and macrolides. Our data will facilitate the understanding of resistance, virulence and transmission features of XDR AB isolates from Romanian patients and might be able to contribute to the implementation of appropriate infection control measures and to develop new molecules with innovative mechanisms of action, able to fight effectively against these bugs, for limiting the spread and decreasing the infection rate and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gheorghe
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ilda Czobor Barbu
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius Surleac
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania ,grid.8194.40000 0000 9828 7548National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Matei Bals”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ionela Sârbu
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XGenetics Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Laura Ioana Popa
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania ,grid.435400.60000 0004 0369 4845Department of Bioinformatics, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Simona Paraschiv
- grid.8194.40000 0000 9828 7548National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Matei Bals”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Yu Feng
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Centre of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Veronica Lazăr
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc
- grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania ,grid.5100.40000 0001 2322 497XResearch Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), Bucharest, Romania ,grid.435118.aAcademy of Romanian Scientists, 050045 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dan Oţelea
- grid.8194.40000 0000 9828 7548National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Matei Bals”, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Zong Zhiyong
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581Centre of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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