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[Analysis of plasmid profile of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae circulating in hospitals]
Abstract:
Certain pheno- and genotype properties of S. typhimurium and some other representatives of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to antimicrobial drugs were studied. The strains were isolated from children with salmonellosis within 4 months when an infection hospital was subjected to microbiological observation. It was shown that by their antibiotic resistance, phagovars and molecular weights of the plasmid DNas, the strains S. typhimurium were similar to those isolated during hospital infections. The conjugative plasmids responsible for antibiotic resistance in some strains did not differ in their molecular weights and antibiotic resistance markers. The strains S. typhimurium similar in their pheno- and genotype properties were isolated only from 2 patients which allowed one to consider it possible that the patients were infected by the strains of common genesis. Analysis of nonpathogenic representatives of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the patients along with the S. typhimurium strains confirmed the fact that the patients were infected with the same pathogenic strain.
Insights
This study investigated antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella typhimurium strains from children with salmonellosis. Findings suggest patients were infected by a common pathogenic strain, confirmed by analyzing both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Enterobacteriaceae.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genetics
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae poses a significant public health challenge.
- Salmonella typhimurium is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis, particularly in children.
- Hospital-acquired infections require continuous microbiological surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize pheno- and genotype properties of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella typhimurium and other Enterobacteriaceae.
- To determine the commonality of S. typhimurium strains isolated from pediatric salmonellosis cases during a hospital outbreak.
- To investigate the role of plasmids in antibiotic resistance.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and microbiological observation of bacterial strains from pediatric patients.
- Phenotypic analysis including antimicrobial resistance profiling and phage typing (phagovars).
- Genotypic analysis focusing on plasmid DNA molecular weights and antibiotic resistance markers.
Main Results:
- Salmonella typhimurium strains exhibited similar antibiotic resistance, phagovars, and plasmid DNA profiles to those found in hospital infections.
- Conjugative plasmids conferring antibiotic resistance showed consistent molecular weights and resistance markers across strains.
- Identical S. typhimurium strains were isolated from two patients, suggesting a common origin.
- Analysis of co-isolated nonpathogenic Enterobacteriaceae supported the conclusion of a single pathogenic strain infection.
Conclusions:
- The S. typhimurium strains isolated from pediatric salmonellosis cases shared common pheno- and genotypic characteristics, indicative of a single source.
- Hospital-acquired infections with S. typhimurium can be traced to common strains, emphasizing the importance of infection control.
- Plasmids play a crucial role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance among Enterobacteriaceae.