First case of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia successfully identified using MALDI-TOF MS

Desulfovibrio species are anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli that make up part of the human gastrointestinal and vaginal flora. Infection with these bacteria is usually secondary to an intra-abdominal source. Identification of these bacteria is possible using available contemporary methods. We report the first case of Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteraemia identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Mutations at the ribosomal s10 gene in clinical strains of staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to tigecycline

Mutations on the tip of the extended loop of the ribosomal S10 protein have been associated to tigecycline (TGC) resistance in passaged mutants of different bacteria species. This study described the first two clinical TGC-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates with these mutations. One strain (TGC MIC = 2 mg/liter) had a 12-nucleotide deletion affecting residues 56 to 59 (HKYK) of the S10 protein. The second strain (TGC MIC = 1 mg/liter) had amino acid substitutions (K57M and Y58F) previously described in S. aureus passaged mutants.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

CC398 Staphylococcus aureus subpopulations in Belgian patients

Studies based on genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) supported the existence of two subpopulations in clonal complex (CC) 398 Staphylococcus aureus: an ancestral human-adapted clade (HC) and an animal-associated clade (AC). In this study, we have investigated the occurrence of genetic markers that allow discrimination of these subpopulations among CC398 isolates collected during 2014 to 2016 from human patients in Belgium. A collection of isolates was investigated by means of spa-typing and 16S-mecA-nuc PCR. CC398 isolates were classified as belonging to the human or the animal clade by using a canonical SNPs PCR and further studied by antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of toxins, immune evasion cluster (IEC), and resistance genes. A total of 124 (7.8%) human isolates belonged to CC398. They were grouped into HC (n = 58) or AC (n = 66). The genes erm(T), pvl, chp, and scn were predominantly found in HC-CC398, while AC-CC398 isolates carried more frequently than the mecA, erm(C), tet(K), tet(M), and tet(L) genes. Different combinations of gene profiles were observed according to the clade. CC398 isolates from Belgian patients belonged to different subpopulations including typical HC and AC-isolates. Few HC-strains with mecA and AC-isolates harboring IEC were found. CC398 isolates from Belgian patients belonged to different subpopulations including typical HC and AC-isolates, as well as new emerging subpopulations that underline the ability of this lineage to acquire resistance and virulence genes. Further research is needed to evaluate the emergence of these subpopulations in the clinical setting.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Multiple interspecies recombination events documented by whole-genome sequencing in multidrug-resistant Haemophilus influenzae clinical isolates.

Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) was long known as an easy-to-treat bacterium, but increasing resistance against beta-lactams and other critically important antibiotics is now a growing concern. We describe here the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of three non-typeable Hi isolates received in 2018-2019 by the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) for Haemophilus influenzae, as they presented an unusual multi-resistant profile.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Clinical case of cfr-positive MRSA CC398 in Belgium

SCOPUS: le.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Bacteria from animals as a pool of antimicrobial resistance genes

Antimicrobial agents are used in both veterinary and human medicine. The intensive use of antimicrobials in animals may promote the fixation of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria, which may be zoonotic or capable to transfer these genes to human-adapted pathogens or to human gut microbiota via direct contact, food or the environment. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the use of antimicrobial agents in animal health and explores the role of bacteria from animals as a pool of antimicrobial resistance genes for human bacteria. This review focused in relevant examples within the ESC(K)APE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile (Klebsiella pneumoniae), Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae) group of bacterial pathogens that are the leading cause of nosocomial infections throughout the world.SCOPUS: re.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Antimicrobial resistance and population structure of Staphylococcus epidermidis recovered from animals and humans

While Staphylococcus epidermidis, as part of the commensal flora, is a well-known human opportunistic pathogen, only little is known about the genetic relatedness of S epidermidis carriage isolates from animal and human origin This study aimed to compare S epidermidis recovered from livestock, livestock-farmers and humans associated with the hospital environment A total of 193 S epidermidis isolates from three populations [animals ( n= 33), farmers ( n= 86) and hospital-associated ( n= 74)] were characterized by broth microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility testing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec) typing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) The overall S epidermidis nasal colonization rate was low in animals (1-9%) but high among farmers (75%) High levels of multi-resistance were found in all populations Tetracycline resistance was high in animal and farmer isolates; resistance to erythromycin, clindamycin and trimethoprim was high in animal and hospital-associated isolates Methicillin-resistant S epidermidis - MRSE isolates were found in all collections, with 22 (67%) MRSE in animals, 44 (51%) MRSE in farmers and 42 (57%) MRSE associated with the hospital-setting Known SCC mec types and variants were detected in 79% of MRSE; the rest were non-typeable cassettes In total 79 PFGE-types were found, of which 22 were shared between livestock, farmers and the hospital settings Clonal complex 2 was predominant in all three populations and most STs corresponded to types previously observed in community and nosocomial S epidermidis populations S epidermidis isolates from livestock, farmers and hospital-setting showed a high level of diversity, but some clones can be found in humans as well as in animals.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Atopobium vaginae intrapartum bacteremia: A case report with a literature review.

Atopobium vaginae is an anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium recognized as a causative agent of bacterial vaginosis and associated with preterm delivery. Invasive infection and bacteremia have been rarely reported. We describe the case of a woman expecting her firstborn child who presented with a A. vaginae bacteremia during labor. Identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Both maternal and fetal outcomes were favorable due to the maternal treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. We identified three other cases in the literature with different fetal outcome. The genetic diversity of A. vaginae should be further explored in order to reveal potential strains with differential pathogenic potential.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

In vitro activity of ceftaroline against clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected during a national survey conducted in Belgian hospitals

Objectives: The aim of this studywas to estimate the in vitro activity of ceftaroline against clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected during national surveillance in Belgian acute-care hospitals. Ceftaroline-resistant isolates were further investigated for their resistance mechanisms. Methods: From October 2013 to March 2014, 155 laboratories of Belgian acute-care hospitals were invited to send to the National Reference Centre-Staphylococcus aureus (Belgium) up to five non-duplicate S. aureus including three MRSA and two MSSA from hospitalized patients. Isolates were analysed by spa typing, SCCmec typing (for MRSA) and PCR for detection of 16S-mecA-nuc and 16S-mecC. MICs of oxacillin, cefoxitin and ceftaroline were determined by the broth microdilution method. The nucleotide sequences of mecA, native pbp and gdpP genes of isolates with reduced susceptibility to ceftaroline were analysed for the presence of mutations responsible for amino acid substitutions. Results: Ninety-nine percent of isolates, including MRSA (n=284) and MSSA (n=131), were susceptible to ceftaroline. Only four MRSA isolates showed resistance to ceftaroline (MIC=2 mg/L). These four isolates belonged to lineages CC5 (n=1), CC22 (n=2) and CC8 (n=1). Two isolates (CC22 and CC8) carried mutations in mecA, as well as in other pbp genes. The remaining isolates carried mutations in native pbp genes or in gdpP. Conclusions: This is the first Belgian in vitro survey on ceftaroline activity against S. aureus. This antibiotic showed excellent activity against MRSA and MSSA, and only a few MRSA isolates with resistance were found. Reduced susceptibility to ceftaroline seems a complex phenomenon due to the accumulation of mutations in genes involved in β-lactam tolerance.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe