Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the main pathogens responsible for nosocomial infections, particularly in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Due to the complexity of P. aeruginosa ecology, only powerful typing methods can efficiently allow its surveillance and the detection during expanding outbreaks. An increase in P. aeruginosa incidence was observed in the ICUs of the Lausanne University Hospital between 2010 and 2014. All clinical and environmental isolates retrieved during this period were typed with Double locus sequence typing (DLST), which detected the presence of three major genotypes: DLST 1–18, DLST 1–21, and DLST 6–7. DLST 1–18 (ST1076) isolates were previously associated with an epidemiologically well-described outbreak in the burn unit. Nevertheless, DLST 1–21 (ST253) and DLST 6–7 (ST17) showed sporadic occurrence with only few cases of possible transmission between patients. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to further investigate the epidemiology of these three major P. aeruginosa genotypes in the ICUs. WGS was able to differentiate between outbreak and non-outbreak isolates and confirm suspected epidemiological links. Additionally, whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) results considered isolates as closely related for which no epidemiological links were suspected, expanding the epidemiological investigation to unsuspected links. The combination of a first-line molecular typing tool (DLST) with a more discriminatory method (WGS) proved to be an accurate and cost-efficient typing strategy for the investigation of P. aeruginosa epidemiology in the ICUs.
Highlights
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered one of the main Gram-negative bacteria causing health-care associated infections [1]
Within Double locus sequence typing (DLST) 1–21, epidemiological links were identified only between two patients hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) 2 and an environmental sample retrieved from a sink trap in the same ICU
We provide insight into the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa in the ICUs of a tertiary care hospital by combining a fast and cheap molecular typing method (DLST) with a more sophisticated and discriminatory method (WGS)
Summary
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered one of the main Gram-negative bacteria causing health-care associated infections [1]. P. aeruginosa is widely present in the environment and can be retrieved from different sources, such as respiratory therapy equipment, antiseptics, soap, sinks, and hydrotherapy pools [2]. This pathogen was found to be part of the endogenous. Genomic Epidemiology of P. aeruginosa in ICUs microbiota of 2.6–24% of hospitalized patients [3, 4]. P. aeruginosa has been previously described as the second most common organism responsible for infections acquired in the intensive care units (ICUs) [7]. Clinical isolates are indistinguishable from environmental isolates; and there are no specific clones related to a specific habitat [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
