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Antimicrobial Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Citrobacter spp. Causing Extraintestinal Infections

Liyun Liu1, Ling Zhang2, Haijian Zhou1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function (2018RU010), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|September 13, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Extraintestinal infections are caused by diverse Citrobacter species, with a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Molecular typing revealed unique sequence types and clonal complexes within these resistant bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Citrobacter species are increasingly recognized as significant pathogens causing extraintestinal infections.
  • Understanding the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of these bacteria is crucial for effective treatment and control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular characteristics of Citrobacter isolates from extraintestinal infections.
  • To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these isolates.
  • To assess the adhesion and cytotoxicity of Citrobacter strains.

Main Methods:

  • Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using seven housekeeping genes was performed on 46 clinical Citrobacter isolates.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the disk diffusion method.
  • Adhesion and cytotoxicity assays were performed on HEp-2 cells.

Main Results:

  • Thirty-eight sequence types (STs) and four clonal complexes (CCs) were identified among the 46 isolates.
  • Over half of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), including carbapenem-resistant strains.
  • Quinolone resistance in C. freundii was associated with a specific gyrA gene mutation.

Conclusions:

  • Citrobacter isolates causing extraintestinal infections exhibit significant genetic diversity.
  • A high prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, including carbapenem resistance, was observed.
  • Further research is needed to understand the clinical implications of Citrobacter virulence factors.
Keywords:
Citrobacter spp.cytotoxicitygyrAmultidrug resistancesequence types

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