Low rate of gut colonization by extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae in HIV infected persons as compared to healthy individuals in Nepal

Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales among HIV patients at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Enterobacterales infections in immunocompromised individuals are associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. This study aimed to assess the faecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) among HIV-infected patients at Jimma Medical Center. A total of 344 stool samples were collected and inoculated on Mac-Conkey and Eosin-Methylene Blue agar and incubated at 35-37 °C aerobically. ESBL and carbapenemase production were detected using D68C ESBL/AmpC and D73C CARBA plus (Mast Group, UK).

RESULTS

A total of 376 Enterobacterales were isolated. The prevalence of ESBL-PE and CPE carriage rate was 13.3% (50/376) and 4.3% (16/376) respectively. The highest proportion of ESBL producing isolates were found in K. pneumoniae 29.0% (9/31) followed by E. coli 13.4% (39/292). Similarly, K. pneumoniae 12.9% (4/31) was the most common carbapenem-resistant isolate followed by E. coli 3.8% (11/292). Multi-drug resistance was observed in 66.5% (250/376) of the isolates. Prior cephalosporin use (AOR = 7.9; 2.31-27.29), CD4 count (≤ 350 cells/µL) (AOR = 3.8; 1.12-12.9), and comorbidities (AOR = 2.3; 1.24-4.32) were significantly associated with ESBL production. Additionally, cephalosporin use (AOR = 6.34; 1.27-31.66) was significantly associated with the presence of CRE.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a high prevalence of ESBL-PE and CPE among HIV patients, with K. pneumoniae and E. coli being the dominant isolates. MDR was common, with key risk factors being prior cephalosporin use, low CD4 counts, and comorbidities. These findings emphasize the need for enhanced infection prevention and control, regular screening, and improved antibiotic stewardship to curb the spread of resistant bacteria in immunocompromised individuals.

Faecal carriage of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in people living with HIV in Yaoundé, Cameroon

OBJECTIVES

Antibiotic resistance (AR) is a global health issue with multidimensional repercussions. There is a paucity of data regarding the molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales (MDR-E) and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) in Africa, especially among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study aimed at determining the prevalence, risk factors, phenotypic and genotypic profiles of MDR-E and ESBL-PE isolated from PLHIV in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

METHODS

In total, samples were collected from 185 PLHIV during a three-month period (April-June 2021) at the Yaoundé Central Hospital. Stool samples and rectal swabs were collected and cultured on MacConkey agar. The API 20E kit was used for the phenotypic identification of the isolates, whereas antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The ß-lactamase genes and genotypic relatedness were studied by PCR and ERIC-PCR, respectively.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDR-E among PLHIV was 81%, of which 39% were ESBL-PE. A high level of resistance to fosfomycin (89%), chloramphenicol (63%), and gentamicin (56%) was observed. Escherichia coli was the predominant MDR non-ESBL-PE (80.8%) and MDR ESBL-PE (73.77%). The principal ß-lactamases genes in MDR non-ESBL and MDR ESBL-PE were blaTEM (62.90%) and blaCTX-M (40.86%), respectively. Genetic fingerprinting revealed high genetic relatedness among E. coli isolates.

CONCLUSION

This study shows a high prevalence of MDR-E and ESBL-PE in the gut of PLHIV in Yaoundé, with blaTEM and blaCTX-M being the most prevalent. It demonstrates the need to strengthen real-time surveillance of these resistant bacteria in order to improve management of infection among PLHIV.

Antibiotic Resistance among Gastrointestinal Bacteria in Broilers: A Review Focused on Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli

Chickens can acquire bacteria at different stages, and bacterial diversity can occur due to production practices, diet, and environment. The changes in consumer trends have led to increased animal production, and chicken meat is one of the most consumed meats. To ensure high levels of production, antimicrobials have been used in livestock for therapeutic purposes, disease prevention, and growth promotion, contributing to the development of antimicrobial resistance across the resident microbiota. Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli are normal inhabitants of the gastrointestinal microbiota of chickens that can develop strains capable of causing a wide range of diseases, i.e., opportunistic pathogens. Enterococcus spp. isolated from broilers have shown resistance to at least seven classes of antibiotics, while E. coli have shown resistance to at least four. Furthermore, some clonal lineages, such as ST16, ST194, and ST195 in Enterococcus spp. and ST117 in E. coli, have been identified in humans and animals. These data suggest that consuming contaminated animal-source food, direct contact with animals, or environmental exposure can lead to the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Therefore, this review focused on Enterococcus spp. and E. coli from the broiler industry to better understand how antibiotic-resistant strains have emerged, which antibiotic-resistant genes are most common, what clonal lineages are shared between broilers and humans, and their impact through a One Health perspective.

Multidrug-Resistant and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL) - Producing Enterobacterales Isolated from Carriage Samples among HIV Infected Women in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The exacerbation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a scarcity of data regarding multidrug-resistant (resistance to at least one antibiotic of three or more families of antibiotics) as well as extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE), isolated among clinical and asymptomatically healthy patients, especially in women living with HIV (WLHIV) despite their immunocompromised status. The overarching aim of this study was set to determine the prevalence and characterize genotypically multi-drug resistant Enterobacterales (MDR-E) and ESBL- PE isolated from vaginal swabs of WLHIV attending the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted among WLHIV during a four-month periods from 1 February to 31 May 2021. A total of 175 WLHIV, of childbearing age and under antiretroviral treatment were contacted. One hundred and twenty participants (120) were recruited and vaginal swabs were collected from them. After culture on Eosine-Methylen Blue (EMB) agar, the identification of Enterobacterales was performed using API 20E kit. A double-screening of ESBL-PE was performed using a combined disc diffusion method and ROSCO Diagnostica kits. An antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out by disc diffusion as per the Kirby-Bauer method and the β-lactamase resistance genes, bla_CTX-M, bla_{CTX-M-group1-2-9}, bla_TEM were molecularly characterized using a conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Overall, 30.83% (37/120) of the included WLHIV were colonized with Enterobacterales and the prevalence of vaginal carriage of MDR Enterobacterales among them was 62.16% (23/37). Among MDR-E isolates, the most prevalent species were E. coli (56.0%; 14/25) and K. pneumoniae (20.0%; 5/25). High rates of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (96.0%; 24/25), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (88.0%; 22/25) and gentamicin (72%; 18/25) were observed. The resistance mechanisms detected among these isolates were ESBL (48.0%; 12/25), ESBL+ porin loss (8.0%; 2/25), ESBL+AmpC (24%; 6/25), with bla_CTX-M, bla_{CTX-M-group-1,2,9} being identified at 48.0% (12/25) for each of them and bla_TEM at 72.0% (18/25). Our findings confirm the high-prevalence of MDR as well as ESBL-PE isolated in WLHIV, and suggest that a real time monitoring system of antimicrobial resistant bacteria coupled with the reinforcement of infection prevention control (IPC) strategies are needed to sustainably contain these life-threatening pathogens especially in the most vulnerable populations.

Multidrug-Resistant and Genetic Characterization of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing E. coli Recovered from Chickens and Humans in Egypt

Simple Summary

Feeding food chain animals with sub-therapeutic doses for prophylaxis or for growth-promoting purposes has led to the emergence of resistant bugs such as ESBL-E. coli. Infections caused by these superbugs are tremendously associated with treatment failures and high morbidity/mortality rates. Scarce information is currently available on the relation between the incidence of ESBL-E. coli in human and food chain animals in Egypt. The current study analyzed chicken and human fecal samples for isolation and characterization of ESBL-producing E. coli followed by sequencing the isolates. Significant similarities were detected between human and chicken isolates, indicating the possibility of zoonotic transmission. In conclusion, the study encouraged managing the use of antibiotics in veterinary field, to reduce the selection and spread of life-threating bugs to humans.

Abstract

Colonization of food chain animals such as chickens with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) poses a major health threat to human. The current study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic relationship between ESBL-producing E. coli from diseased human and chickens in Egypt. A total of 56 out of 120 chicken farms (46.7%) and 9 human samples (100%) were phenotypically and genotypically identified with at least one ESBL-phenotype/gene. Chicken isolates showed a high proportion of beta lactamase from CTX-M group 9 > TEM > PER families, followed by CTX-M group 1 > SHV > GES > OXA group10 > VEB > OXA group2 families, while human isolates only contained the CTX-M family. A high incidence of ESBL genes from the CTX-M family was recognized in both human and chicken isolates. Furthermore, nucleotide identity showed high similarity between chicken and human isolates. In conclusion, the current study traced phenotypes and genotypes of ESBL-producing E. coli from chickens and human samples in Egypt, reporting degrees of similarity that suggest potential zoonotic transmission. Our data highlighted the significant importance of chicken as a major food source not only in Egypt but all over the world in the spreading of ESBL-producing E. coli to human.

[Infections in patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in a medium Spanish city]

OBJECTIVE

Because there are few studies on the clinical implications of colonization by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CRB) this was analyzed in rectal smears (RS) and pharyngeals (PS) and its ability to predict infection/colonization.

METHODS

A cross-sectional, retrospective study from adult inpatients between January 2016 and December 2019 was conducted. The isolates were characterized by MicroScan and spectrometry of masses applying EUCAST 2018 cutoff points. The detection of carbapenemases was performed by PCR and Sanger sequencing; sequencies was assigned by MLST. The genetic relationship between the clinical isolates was made by pulsed field electrophoresis using the enzymes Xbal, Spel or Apal.

RESULTS

A total of 308 (86.03%) RS and 50 (13.97%) positive PS were detected, the RS had a 85% sensibility, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 97% negative predictive value. In RS, the following were isolated: 44% (n=135) Acinetobacter baumannii, 26% (n =80) Enterobacterales (20 KPC, 29 OXA-48, 22 VIM, 2 IMP, 7 NDM), 17% (n=53) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 13% (n=40) Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. In the PS were isolated 44% (n=22) S. maltophilia, 40% (n = 20) A. baumannii, 8% (n=4) P. aeruginosa and 8% (n=4) Enterobacterales (3 VIM, 1 OXA). From the patients with simultaneous RS and PS, 41 (40.6%) had positivity in both smears, 45 (44.6%) only in RS and 15 (14.9%) only in PS. Colonization preceded infection in 81.3% (n=13) of the isolates; association between infection and colonization was found (p<0.001; χ2); and the episodes where the information was found all the isolates from the clinical samples and from the smears were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

The probability of predicting infection through the CRB colonized in different clinical samples is feasible. The RS has a major sensibility to detect colonization.

Fecal carriage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae among HIV infected children at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital Gondar, Ethiopia

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae infections are the major challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the carriage rate of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae among HIV infected children is lacking in Ethiopia. Hence this study was aimed to investigate fecal carriage of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae among HIV infected children at the University of Gondar comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV infected children from January to April 2020. Stool specimens were collected from 161 study participants by convenient sampling and cultured on MacConkey agar. Biochemical identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing including ESBL production were carried out. Data were analyzed by SPSS version-20 and P-value < 0.05 on multivariate logistic regression analysis was regarded as statistically significant.

Results

From a total of 161 study participants male to female ratio was 1:1.1. Moreover; 96.3% of participants were in HIV stage-I and 90.1% had at least a year highly active antiretroviral therapy exposure. A total of 186 Enterobacteriaceae, with E. coli 60% and K. pneumonia 16.13% predominance were isolated from 161 participants. Majority of isolates were most resistant to amoxicillin (95.1%) and sensitive to CHL (94.1%), CXT (91.4%) and CAZ (91.4%). There were 71(38.17%) multidrug resistant isolates, 13 of which were also ESBL producers. The overall ESBL carriage rate was 32/161 (19.9%). History of antibiotic use was the independent factor associated with ESBL carriage (AOR 3.23 (95% CI 1.054–9.88)) and P-value of 0.04.

Conclusion

ESBL carriage rate of HIV infected children was considerable. Previous antibiotic use was the independent factor. Regular screening for antibiotic resistance on HIV patients before prescription and large-scale antibiotic resistance survey including healthy community may be important.

Intestinal Carriage of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- (ESBL-) Possessing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella Species among Nepalese Health Science and Non-Health Science Students

Infections due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing Gram-negative bacteria have led to increased mortality, morbidity, and economic burden worldwide. These bacteria can colonize the healthy intestine of human beings and can disseminate in communities and hospital. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of fecal carriage of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species among health science (HS) and non-health science (NHS) students. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 HS and 104 NHS students in which one stool sample from each student was collected and processed for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing according to standard bacteriological procedures. Each morphotype was identified and characterized phenotypically. The antimicrobial sensitivity profile of bacterial isolates was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion technique. ESBL production was tested by combination disk method as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Out of 208 stool samples, E. coli and Klebsiella spp. were recovered from 203 (86.8%) and 31 (13.2%) stool samples, respectively. Among those 234 isolates, 69 were positive for ESBL which included E. coli (n = 66, 95.7%) and Klebsiella spp. (n = 3, 4.3%). Fifty (42.4%) out of 118 isolates from HS students and 19 (16.4%) out of 116 from NHS students were colonized by ESBL-producers. Compared to non-ESBL producers, a higher number of ESBL-producing isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (14.5% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001), cotrimoxazole (59.4% vs. 16.4%, p < 0.001), and amikacin (10.1% vs 4.2%, p < 0.001). All E. coli and Klebsiella species isolates were susceptible to meropenem. The prevalence of fecal carriage of ESBL-producing bacteria was higher in HS students; however, there was a considerable number of these strains colonizing NHS students as well. This “iceberg phenomenon” of asymptomatic carriage of ESBL-producing pathogens might act as a source of infection in both the community and hospitals. Therefore, surveillance of carriage of drug-resistant bacteria should be performed regularly.

Detection and characterization of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae from the gut of subsistence farmers, their livestock, and the surrounding environment in rural Nepal

The increasing trend of gut colonization by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacterales has been observed in conventional farm animals and their owners. Still, such colonization among domesticated organically fed livestock has not been well studied. This study aimed to determine the gut colonization rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) among rural subsistence farming communities of the Kaski district in Nepal. Rectal swabs collected by systematic random sampling from 128 households of subsistence farming communities were screened for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and CPE by phenotypic and molecular methods. A total of 357 (57%) ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates were obtained from 626 specimens, which included 97 ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (75.8%) from 128 adult humans, 101 (79.5%) from 127 of their children, 51 (47.7%) from 107 cattle, 26 (51%) from 51 goats, 30 (34.9%) from 86 poultry and 52 (42%) from 127 environmental samples. No CPE was isolated from any of the samples. blaCTX-M-15 was the most predominant gene found in animal (86.8%) and human (80.5%) isolates. Out of 308 Escherichia coli isolates, 16 human and two poultry isolates were positive for ST131 and were of clade C. Among non-cephalosporin antibiotics, the resistance rates were observed slightly higher in tetracycline and ciprofloxacin among all study subjects. This is the first one-health study in Nepal, demonstrating the high rate of CTX-M-15 type ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae among gut flora of subsistence-based farming communities. Gut colonization by E. coli ST131 clade C among healthy farmers and poultry birds is a consequential public health concern.

Detection and characterization of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae from the gut of healthy chickens, Gallus gallus domesticus in rural Nepal: Dominance of CTX-M-15-non-ST131 Escherichia coli clones

The surge in the prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria in poultry is a global concern as it may pose an extended threat to humans and animal health. The present study aimed to investigate the colonization proportion of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EPE and CPE, respectively) in the gut of healthy poultry, Gallus gallus domesticus in Kaski district of Western Nepal. Total, 113 pooled rectal swab specimens from 66 private household farms and 47 commercial poultry farms were collected by systematic random sampling from the Kaski district in western Nepal. Out of 113 pooled samples, 19 (28.8%) samples from 66 backyard farms, and 15 (31.9%) from 47 commercial broiler farms were positive for EPE. Of the 38 EPE strains isolated from 34 ESBL positive rectal swabs, 31(81.6%) were identified as Escherichia coli, five as Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.2%), and one each isolate of Enterobacter species and Citrobacter species (2.6%). Based on genotyping, 35/38 examined EPE strains (92.1%) were phylogroup-1 positive, and all these 35 strains (100%) had the CTX-M-15 gene and strains from phylogroup-2, and 9 were of CTX-M-2 and CTX-M-14, respectively. Among 38 ESBL positive isolates, 9 (23.7%) were Ambler class C (Amp C) co-producers, predominant were of DHA, followed by CIT genes. Two (6.5%) E. coli strains of ST131 belonged to clade C, rest 29/31 (93.5%) were non-ST131 E. coli. None of the isolates produced carbapenemase. Twenty isolates (52.6%) were in-vitro biofilm producers. Univariate analysis showed that the odd of ESBL carriage among commercial broilers were 1.160 times (95% CI 0.515, 2.613) higher than organically fed backyard flocks. This is the first study in Nepal, demonstrating the EPE colonization proportion, genotypes, and prevalence of high-risk clone E. coli ST131 among gut flora of healthy poultry. Our data indicated that CTX-M-15 was the most prevalent ESBL enzyme, mainly associated with E. coli belonging to non-ST131clones and the absence of carbapenemases.