Abstract
Recently discovered extraintestinal Escherichia fergusonii obtained from non-clinical samples has exhibited the potential for acquiring multiple beta-lactamase genes, just like many extraintestinal Escherichia coli strains. Albeit, they are often omitted or classified as E. coli. This study aimed to, therefore, identify carbapenem-resistant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. fergusonii isolates from clinical samples, determine their evolutionary relatedness using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and screen for beta-lactamase genes. A total of 135 septic wound samples were obtained from patients on referral at a General Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. For the phenotypic identification of isolates from culture-positive samples, morphological, and physiological tests were carried out. Identities of the isolates harbouring beta-lactamase genes were assigned to their genus strains using the 16S rRNA sequencing. The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and double-disc synergy test were used to screen isolates for multidrug resistance and ESBL production. Carbapenem-resistant ESBL producing isolates were screened for beta-lactamase genes in a polymerase chain reaction. Three E. fergusonii isolates (CR11, CR35 and CR49) were obtained during this study. E. fergusonii strains were motile, non-lactose and non-sorbitol fermenting but positive for cellobiose and adonitol fermentation. The I6S rRNA assigned the phenotypically identified isolates to E. fergusonii species. All three isolates were multidrug-resistant, carbapenem-resistant and ESBL producers. Isolates CR11 and CR35 harboured cefotaximase (CTX-M) and temoniera (TEM) beta-lactamase genes while CR49 harboured sulfhydryl variable (SHV) beta-lactamase gene. We herein report the detection of multiple beta-lactamase genes in carbapenem-resistant ESBL producing E. fergusonii from clinical samples.
Highlights
Multidrug-resistant Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) clones have contributed significantly to the growing antibiotics resistance burden [1,2]
Sulfhydryl variable (SHV-12) and CTX-M-1 conferring extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes have been reported in E. fergusonii from non-clinical samples, there is yet to be any report from human samples [7,20]
A total of three E. fergusonii isolates designated CR11, CR35 and CR49 were classified to distinguish them from other Escherichia species associated from wound infections
Summary
Multidrug-resistant Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) clones have contributed significantly to the growing antibiotics resistance burden [1,2]. Several clinical multidrug-resistant ExPEC clones, including ST131, ST73 and ST40, reported in previous studies, have acquired resistance plasmids that encode multiple beta-lactamase genes, those required for Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production [3,4,5,6,7]. In Nigeria, several clones of multidrug-resistant ExPECs (ST131, ST295, ST617, ST501, ST448 and ST617) have rapidly acquired transmissible plasmids that encode several beta-lactamase genes, including the CTX-M-15 genes [11] Another extraintestinal human pathogen within the genus Escherichia has shown tendencies for the dissemination of plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase genes. Sulfhydryl variable (SHV-12) and CTX-M-1 conferring ESBL phenotypes have been reported in E. fergusonii from non-clinical samples, there is yet to be any report from human samples [7,20]
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