Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in isolates obtained in german intensive care units

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Intensive care units (ICUs) are critical settings for the emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.
• The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes, such as qnr and integrons, poses a significant threat to patient treatment.
• Surveillance of Enterobacteriaceae in European ICUs is crucial for understanding resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To screen Enterobacteriaceae isolates from German ICUs for the presence of qnr genes and integrons.
• To identify the species of Enterobacteriaceae carrying these resistance determinants.
• To report the occurrence of qnr-positive strains in European intensive care settings.

Main Methods:

• Culture and isolation of 703 Enterobacteriaceae strains from diverse German ICUs.
• Molecular screening of isolates for the presence of qnr genes.
• Detection of integrons within positive isolates.
• Species identification of Enterobacteriaceae isolates.

Main Results:

• Discovery of qnr-positive, integron-containing isolates of Enterobacter sp. and Citrobacter freundii.
• Isolates were identified in four patients across two German ICUs.
• This marks one of the first reports of qnr-positive strains from patients in Europe.

Conclusions:

• The identification of qnr-positive Enterobacteriaceae in German ICUs highlights the need for ongoing surveillance.
• The presence of integrons alongside qnr genes suggests potential for further resistance gene dissemination.
• These findings underscore the importance of monitoring antimicrobial resistance in critical care environments across Europe.