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Detection of apramycin resistant Enterobacteriaceae in hospital isolates
E Chaslus-Dancla1, Y Glupcznski, G Gerbaud
1Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Centre de Tours-Nouzilly, Monnaie, France.
Abstract:
Apramycin is a recently developed aminoglycoside restricted to veterinary therapy. Production of a 3-aminoglycoside acetyltransferase type IV (AAC(3)-IV) conferring cross-resistance to this drug and to gentamicin was detected in 1984 in France in bacteria of bovine origin. This mechanism of resistance was apparently confined to animals. We have studied 17 strains resistant to apramycin and gentamicin isolated in 5 hospitals in Belgium. Conjugative plasmids encoding an AAC(3)IV were present in 14 isolates. Comparison of the restriction fingerprints revealed 6 different plasmid patterns: 8 plasmids belonged to 2 groups sharing extensive intragroup homology and 4 were not related to the other replicons. These results indicate dissemination of plasmids within and between hospitals, but also of the gene encoding an AAC(3)IV.
Insights
Apramycin resistance in bacteria is linked to a specific enzyme (AAC(3)-IV), also conferring gentamicin resistance. This study found widespread apramycin resistance due to transferable plasmids in Belgian hospitals, indicating animal-to-human transmission potential.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Apramycin, a veterinary aminoglycoside antibiotic, faces resistance challenges.
- The AAC(3)-IV enzyme confers resistance to apramycin and gentamicin.
- This resistance mechanism was previously thought to be confined to animal bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and dissemination of apramycin and gentamicin resistance in bacterial isolates from Belgian hospitals.
- To characterize the genetic elements, specifically plasmids, responsible for this resistance.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of 17 apramycin- and gentamicin-resistant bacterial strains from 5 Belgian hospitals.
- Detection and analysis of conjugative plasmids encoding the AAC(3)-IV resistance gene.
- Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to compare plasmid DNA.
Main Results:
- Fourteen of the 17 resistant isolates harbored conjugative plasmids encoding AAC(3)-IV.
- Six distinct plasmid patterns were identified, with 8 plasmids falling into 2 homologous groups.
- Four plasmids showed no relation to the other identified replicons, suggesting diverse origins or evolution.
Conclusions:
- The AAC(3)-IV gene and associated plasmids are disseminating within and between hospitals in Belgium.
- The findings suggest a potential for apramycin resistance to spread from animal sources to human clinical settings.
- This highlights the need for monitoring antimicrobial resistance transfer between animal and human medicine.