Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus

Abstract Introduction Colonisation and infection with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in healthcare settings poses significant risks, especially for vulnerable patients. Genomic analysis can be used to trace transmission routes, supporting antimicrobial stewardship and informing infectio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Linzy Elton, Alan Williams, Shanom Ali, Jelena Heaphy, Vicky Pang, Liam Commins, Conor O’Brien, Özge Yetiş, Estelle Caine, Imogen Ward, Monika Muzslay, Samuel Yui, Kush Karia, Ellinor Shore, Sylvia Rofael, Damien J. F. Mack, Timothy D. McHugh, Emmanuel Q. Wey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-024-00762-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850100624081813504
author Linzy Elton
Alan Williams
Shanom Ali
Jelena Heaphy
Vicky Pang
Liam Commins
Conor O’Brien
Özge Yetiş
Estelle Caine
Imogen Ward
Monika Muzslay
Samuel Yui
Kush Karia
Ellinor Shore
Sylvia Rofael
Damien J. F. Mack
Timothy D. McHugh
Emmanuel Q. Wey
author_facet Linzy Elton
Alan Williams
Shanom Ali
Jelena Heaphy
Vicky Pang
Liam Commins
Conor O’Brien
Özge Yetiş
Estelle Caine
Imogen Ward
Monika Muzslay
Samuel Yui
Kush Karia
Ellinor Shore
Sylvia Rofael
Damien J. F. Mack
Timothy D. McHugh
Emmanuel Q. Wey
author_sort Linzy Elton
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Colonisation and infection with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in healthcare settings poses significant risks, especially for vulnerable patients. Genomic analysis can be used to trace transmission routes, supporting antimicrobial stewardship and informing infection control strategies. Here we used genomic analysis to track the movement and transmission of CREs within clinical and environmental samples. Methods 25 isolates were cultured from clinical patient samples or swabs, that tested positive for OXA-48-like variants using the NG-Test® CARBA-5 test and whole genome sequenced (WGS) using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). 158 swabs and 52 wastewater samples were collected from the ward environment. 60 isolates (matching clinical isolate genera; Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Escherichia) were isolated from the environmental samples using selective agar. Metagenomic sequencing was undertaken on 36 environmental wastewater and swab samples. Results 21/25 (84%) clinical isolates had > 1 bla OXA gene and 19/25 (76%) harboured > 1 bla NDM gene. Enterobacterales were most commonly isolated from environmental wastewater samples 27/52 (51.9%), then stick swabs 5/43 (11.6%) and sponge swabs 5/115 (4.3%). 11/60 (18%) environmental isolates harboured > 1 bla OXA gene and 1.9% (1/60) harboured bla NDM-1 . bla OXA genes were found in 2/36 (5.5%) metagenomic environmental samples. Conclusions Potential for putative patient-patient and patient-ward transmission was shown. Metagenomic sampling needs optimization to improve sensitivity.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7f3454413c1492baa365f6dd7f3fbbd
institution DOAJ
issn 1476-0711
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
spelling doaj-art-c7f3454413c1492baa365f6dd7f3fbbd2025-08-20T02:40:14ZengBMCAnnals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials1476-07112024-12-0123111510.1186/s12941-024-00762-8Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexusLinzy Elton0Alan Williams1Shanom Ali2Jelena Heaphy3Vicky Pang4Liam Commins5Conor O’Brien6Özge Yetiş7Estelle Caine8Imogen Ward9Monika Muzslay10Samuel Yui11Kush Karia12Ellinor Shore13Sylvia Rofael14Damien J. F. Mack15Timothy D. McHugh16Emmanuel Q. Wey17The Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonDepartment of Infection Sciences, Health Services LaboratoriesThe Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustThe Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonEnvironmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEnvironmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEnvironmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEnvironmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEnvironmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDepartment of Infection Sciences, Health Services LaboratoriesThe Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonRoyal Free London NHS Foundation TrustThe Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonThe Centre for Clinical Microbiology, University College LondonAbstract Introduction Colonisation and infection with Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in healthcare settings poses significant risks, especially for vulnerable patients. Genomic analysis can be used to trace transmission routes, supporting antimicrobial stewardship and informing infection control strategies. Here we used genomic analysis to track the movement and transmission of CREs within clinical and environmental samples. Methods 25 isolates were cultured from clinical patient samples or swabs, that tested positive for OXA-48-like variants using the NG-Test® CARBA-5 test and whole genome sequenced (WGS) using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). 158 swabs and 52 wastewater samples were collected from the ward environment. 60 isolates (matching clinical isolate genera; Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter and Escherichia) were isolated from the environmental samples using selective agar. Metagenomic sequencing was undertaken on 36 environmental wastewater and swab samples. Results 21/25 (84%) clinical isolates had > 1 bla OXA gene and 19/25 (76%) harboured > 1 bla NDM gene. Enterobacterales were most commonly isolated from environmental wastewater samples 27/52 (51.9%), then stick swabs 5/43 (11.6%) and sponge swabs 5/115 (4.3%). 11/60 (18%) environmental isolates harboured > 1 bla OXA gene and 1.9% (1/60) harboured bla NDM-1 . bla OXA genes were found in 2/36 (5.5%) metagenomic environmental samples. Conclusions Potential for putative patient-patient and patient-ward transmission was shown. Metagenomic sampling needs optimization to improve sensitivity.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-024-00762-8Antimicrobial resistanceOXA48NDMPlasmidsTransmissionEnvironment
spellingShingle Linzy Elton
Alan Williams
Shanom Ali
Jelena Heaphy
Vicky Pang
Liam Commins
Conor O’Brien
Özge Yetiş
Estelle Caine
Imogen Ward
Monika Muzslay
Samuel Yui
Kush Karia
Ellinor Shore
Sylvia Rofael
Damien J. F. Mack
Timothy D. McHugh
Emmanuel Q. Wey
Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials
Antimicrobial resistance
OXA48
NDM
Plasmids
Transmission
Environment
title Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
title_full Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
title_fullStr Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
title_full_unstemmed Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
title_short Tracing the transmission of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales at the patient: ward environmental nexus
title_sort tracing the transmission of carbapenem resistant enterobacterales at the patient ward environmental nexus
topic Antimicrobial resistance
OXA48
NDM
Plasmids
Transmission
Environment
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12941-024-00762-8
work_keys_str_mv AT linzyelton tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT alanwilliams tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT shanomali tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT jelenaheaphy tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT vickypang tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT liamcommins tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT conorobrien tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT ozgeyetis tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT estellecaine tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT imogenward tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT monikamuzslay tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT samuelyui tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT kushkaria tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT ellinorshore tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT sylviarofael tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT damienjfmack tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT timothydmchugh tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus
AT emmanuelqwey tracingthetransmissionofcarbapenemresistantenterobacteralesatthepatientwardenvironmentalnexus