Related Experiment Videos
[Nosocomial infection by new quinolone resistant Enterobacter cloacae]
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nagoya University Hospital.
Abstract:
For the past two years, five strains of new quinolone resistant Enterobacter cloacae have been isolated from three patients in our hospital; strain A was isolated from patient A, strain B from patient B, and strains C1, C2, C3 from patient C. These five strains were resistant to new quinolones and other antimicrobial agents including ampicillin, piperacillin, methicillin, cefotaxime, cefoperazone, kanamycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, minocycline, and chloramphenicol. Plasmid DNA profiles on agarose gel indicated that strain B and C3 carried completely the same plasmid pattern, but strain A gave a different plasmid pattern. Furthermore chromosomal DNAs extracted from strains A, B and C3 were digested with restriction endonucleases EcoR I, BamH I and Sma I. They were separated by pulsefield gel electrophoresis. The banding profiles of strains B and C3 showed the same pattern. It is, therefore, highly suggested that strains B and C3 are the same E. cloacae strain, although isolated from different patients at different time. The possible route of nosocomial infection between these two patients who were hospitalized in the same room after an interval of 4 months was discussed.
Insights
Multiple strains of new quinolone-resistant Enterobacter cloacae were identified in hospital patients. Genetic analysis suggests two strains from different patients are identical, indicating potential nosocomial spread.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Emergence of antimicrobial resistance in hospital-acquired infections.
- Enterobacter cloacae as a significant nosocomial pathogen.
- Challenges in differentiating bacterial strains for infection control.
Purpose:
- To investigate the genetic relatedness of multidrug-resistant Enterobacter cloacae strains isolated from different patients.
- To determine if seemingly distinct isolates represent the same bacterial strain.
- To explore potential transmission routes in a hospital setting.
Summary:
- Five strains of new quinolone-resistant Enterobacter cloacae were isolated from three patients over two years.
- These strains exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics.
- Plasmid and chromosomal DNA analysis (using restriction endonucleases and pulsefield gel electrophoresis) indicated that strains B and C3 are genetically identical, despite isolation from different patients at different times.
- Strain A displayed a distinct genetic profile.
Impact:
- Identifies a genetically identical Enterobacter cloacae strain in multiple patients, suggesting a common source or transmission.
- Highlights the importance of molecular typing for tracking nosocomial infections.
- Informs infection control strategies to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria within healthcare facilities.