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Monitoring Lung Function with Electrical Impedance Tomography in the Intensive Care Unit
Published on: September 6, 2024
Characterization of Bacteria and Inducible Phages in an Intensive Care Unit
Cátia Pacífico1,2, Miriam Hilbert1,2, Dmitrij Sofka1
1Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Intensive care units (ICUs) are critical locations for the transmission of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. Bacteria may develop a synergistic relationship with bacteriophages and more effectively resist various stresses, enabling them to persist despite disinfection and antimicrobial treatment. We collected 77 environmental samples from the surroundings of 12 patients with infection/colonizations by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Klebsiella spp in an ICU in Austria. Surface swabs were tested for lytic phages and bacterial isolates for mitomycin C-inducible prophages. No lytic bacteriophages were detected, but S. aureus was isolated from the surroundings of all patients. About 85% of the colonies isolated from surface samples were resistant to antimicrobials, with 94% of them multidrug resistant. Two inducible temperate bacteriophages-myovirus vB_EcoM_P5 and siphovirus vB_SauS_P9-were recovered from two clinical isolates. Staphylococci phage vB_SauS_P9 lysed S. aureus isolates from the surface swabs collected from the surroundings of three patients. No transductants were obtained on propagation in phage-sensitive antimicrobial-resistant isolates. The two phages were sensitive to 0.25% (v/v) of the disinfectant TPH Protect, which eliminated viable phages after 15 min. Coliphage vB_EcoM_P5 was inactivated at 70 °C and staphylococci phage vB_SauS_P9 at 60 °C after 60 min.
Insights
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, were investigated in an intensive care unit (ICU). While no free-living phages were found, inducible phages were recovered from bacteria, showing limited efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria and sensitivity to disinfectants.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Intensive care units (ICUs) are hotspots for pathogen transmission.
- Bacteria can form symbiotic relationships with bacteriophages, enhancing their resistance to antimicrobials and disinfectants.
- Understanding phage-bacteria interactions in ICUs is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of bacteriophages in an Austrian ICU environment.
- To assess the potential of bacteriophages to influence the persistence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
- To evaluate the susceptibility of bacteriophages to common disinfectants and heat.
Main Methods:
- Collected 77 environmental surface swabs from an ICU.
- Isolated bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp.) and tested for lytic and inducible prophages.
- Assessed phage activity against bacterial isolates and their sensitivity to disinfectant and heat.
Main Results:
- No lytic bacteriophages were detected in environmental samples.
- Staphylococcus aureus was prevalent on surfaces, with 85% of isolates showing antimicrobial resistance (94% multidrug-resistant).
- Two inducible temperate bacteriophages (vB_EcoM_P5 and vB_SauS_P9) were recovered; vB_SauS_P9 showed limited lysis of S. aureus. Phages were inactivated by disinfectant and heat.
Conclusions:
- Inducible bacteriophages exist within ICU bacteria but show limited direct antimicrobial activity in this context.
- The susceptibility of these phages to disinfectants and heat suggests they may not significantly enhance bacterial environmental persistence.
- Further research is needed to explore phage-bacteria dynamics in hospital settings.
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