Probable secondary transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli between people living with and without pets

Pet husbandry as a risk factor for colonization or infection with MDR organisms: a systematic meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

MDR organisms (MDROs) pose a relevant risk for patients in modern healthcare. Although ownership of pet animals is common and owners and pets commonly live in close contact, it is still unclear whether pet ownership may be considered as a risk factor for MDRO acquisition prior to hospitalization.

METHODS

We performed three separate meta-analyses in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, assessing contact to pets as a risk factor for acquisition of MRSA, VRE and MDR Gram-negatives [namely third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCRE) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)].

RESULTS

We calculated an increased risk of MRSA carriage for dog owners [risk ratio (RR) 2.28, 95% CI 1.47-3.56]. Meta-analysis did not show a significantly higher risk for 3GCRE colonization among owners of different pet species compared with non-pet owners (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.83-1.68 for pet owners in general, RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.56-1.40 for dog owners, RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.58-2.34 for cat owners, RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.43-4.18 for rodent owners, RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.38-2.18 for bird owners, and RR 2.34, 95% CI 0.33-16.63 for lizard/frog owners). For VRE, there were insufficient data to perform a meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analyses suggest contact to pet animals is a risk factor for MRSA, but not for 3GCRE/CRE acquisition. Evaluation of the underlying literature suggested a possible role of pet animals as: (i) vectors for the transmission of MDROs between livestock and humans; as well as (ii) a reservoir for MDROs. Pets, therefore, may promote transmission and reinfection of humans.

Comparative occurrence and antibiogram of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli among post-weaned calves and lactating cows from smallholder dairy farms in a parallel animal husbandry area

Background and Aim:

Inappropriate overuse of antimicrobials might be associated with the spreading of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in animal-based food products. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli have been recognized as an emerging global problem in a One Health approach. This study aimed to assess the occurrence and antimicrobial-susceptible profiles of ESBL-producing E. coli among post-weaned calves and lactating cows in a parallel animal husbandry area.

Materials and Methods:

Seventy-two pool fecal samples were collected from 36 smallholder dairy farms registered in Ban Hong Dairy Cooperatives, Lamphun Province, Thailand. Pre-enriched fecal samples were cultured in MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime. The potential E. coli isolates were identified by not only biochemical tests but also polymerase chain reaction assay of the 16S rRNA gene. ESBL production was confirmed by the combination disk test. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method.

Results:

The occurrence of ESBL-producing E. coli at the farm level was 80.56%. The different phenotypic antibiogram of ESBL-producing E. coli was observed among post-weaned calf and lactating cow specimens. The most frequent resistance patterns of ESBL-producing isolates from both groups were amoxicillin-ceftiofur-cephalexin-cephalothin-cloxacillin-streptomycin-oxytetracycline-sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. For the median zone diameter, enrofloxacin-resistant isolates with narrow zone diameter values from lactating cow specimens were particularly more than post-weaned calf specimens (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

These findings revealed the dynamic changes in ESBL-producing E. coli from calves and lactating cows in Lamphun Province, posing the inevitability to prevent bacterial transmission and optimize antimicrobial therapy in dairy farming.

Quinolone Consumption by Mothers Increases Their Children's Risk of Acquiring Quinolone-Resistant Bacteriuria

BACKGROUND

Quinolone resistance has been documented in the pediatric population, although their use is limited in children. This study investigated the effect of maternal quinolone use on gram-negative bacterial resistance to quinolones in their offspring.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based, unmatched case-control study during 2010-2017. Cases were all children aged 0.5-17 years with community acquired, gram-negative quinolone-resistant bacteriuria. Controls were similar children with quinolone-sensitive bacteriuria. Only the first positive urine cultures for each child were included. Data on quinolones dispensed to the mother, any antibiotics dispensed to the children, age, sex, ethnicity, and prior hospitalizations were collected. Children with previous quinolone use were excluded.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 40 204 children. Quinolone resistance was detected in 2182 (5.3%) urine cultures. The median age was 5 years, with 93.7% females and 77.6% Jewish. A total of 26 937 (65%) of the children received any antibiotic and 1359 (3.2%) of the mothers received quinolones in the 6 months preceding bacteriuria. Independent risk factors were quinolone dispensed to the mothers (odds ratio [OR], 1.50 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.22-1.85]), Arab ethnicity (OR, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.81-2.19]), and antibiotic dispensed to the child (OR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.38-1.71]). Compared with children aged 12-17 years, younger children had 1.33-1.43 increased odds for quinolone-resistant bacteriuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Quinolone prescription to mothers was linked to increased risk of community-acquired, quinolone-resistant bacteria in their offspring, by about 50%. This is another example of the deleterious ecological effects of antibiotic use and should be considered when prescribing antibiotics.

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of commensal Escherichia coli isolated from feces of non-diarrheic dogs in Grenada, West Indies

Background and Aim:

There is currently no published information on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of commensal Escherichia coli in dogs of Grenada origin. Monitoring antimicrobial resistance helps in the empirical selection of antibiotics. This study determined the occurrence of E. coli including the O157:H7 serotype in feces of non-diarrheic dogs of Grenada origin and the antibiotic resistance pattern of the E. coli isolates.

Materials and Methods:

Fecal samples from 142 of the 144 (98.6%) dogs were culture positive for E. coli. Selection of up to three colonies from each of the 142 E. coli-positive samples yielded a total of 402 E. coli isolates, which were analyzed for the presence of non-sorbitol fermenting colonies, and O157-agglutination.

Results:

Of the 402 E. coli isolates, 30 (7.5%) were non-sorbitol fermenters. However, none of the 402 isolates gave a positive reaction (O157:H7) to the E. coli O157:H7 latex kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests against 12 antibiotics revealed low resistance rates to all the tested antibiotics except for tetracycline (Te) (23.4%), cephalothin (CF) (13.2%), and ampicillin (AM) (7.7%). Thirty-nine out of the 402 (9.7%), E. coli isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics of different classes.

Conclusion:

This is the first report of isolation and antimicrobial susceptibilities of commensal E. coli from non-diarrheic dogs in Grenada. Some of the isolates (39/402 isolates, 9.7%) were resistant to multiple antibiotics. This study showed that presently, dogs in Grenada should not be considered a reservoir for the E. coli O157:H7 serotype and for multiple antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains. Among the 402 E. coli isolates, the resistance rate to drugs other than Te, CF, and AM was very low.

Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from canine faeces in a public park in Quito, Ecuador

OBJECTIVES

This study focused on estimating the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases, carbapenemases and MCR-1-producing Escherichia coli in canine faeces from a public park in Quito, Ecuador.

METHODS

Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of E. coli isolated from 50 canine faecal samples recovered from a city park in Quito was performed. In addition, a multiple choice survey was conducted among 50 dog owners.

RESULTS

Of the 50 faecal samples, 20 (40.0%) presented E. coli resistant to ceftriaxone. Moreover, 23 E. coli isolates were recovered for further analysis. All of the isolates showed as multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype (resistant to three or more antibiotic families). Resistance to carbapenems, tigecycline and amikacin was not observed. No major clonal relatedness was observed among the resistant isolates. The ESBL genes bla_CTX-M-15, bla_CTX-M-55 and bla_CTX-M-65 were the most common. Two isolates harboured the bla_CMY-2 gene and one isolate harboured both mcr-1 and bla_CTX-M-65. Statistical analysis showed that older people were more conscious of collecting and disposing of dog faeces than subjects aged <35 years (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The finding of MDR E. coli in dog faeces in a city park in Ecuador illustrates the importance of analysing canine faeces in public settings (e.g. parks, playgrounds) as part of surveillance programmes for MDR E. coli. In addition, this research might be a sentinel sampling method to gain a better understanding of community sources of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae at human-animal-environment interfaces.