Resistance trends of Acinetobacter spp. in Latin America and characterization of international dissemination of multi-drug resistant strains: five-year report of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program

Objectives: To analyze the antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from Latin American medical centers as part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program and also to evaluate the dissemination of mutti-drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. strains in the region.Methods: A total of 826 isolates of Acinetobacter spp. from multiple infection sites were collected from January 1997 to December 2001 in ten medical centers and susceptibility tested to >25 selected agents by broth microdilution. Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. isolates were molecular typed.Results: Resistance rates to carbapenems varied significantly among countries. A continued annual increase occurred in the Argentinean medical centers. in contrast, carbapenem resistance was rare in Chilean centers, and decreased significantly in the Brazilian institutions. Acinetobacter spp. isolates recovered from lower respiratory tract and bloodstream infections were associated with lower antimicrobial susceptibility rates. Resistance rates to imipenem were higher among isolates collected from intensive care units (13.5%) than among isolates from other units. A major ribogroup pattern (521-1) was detected among eight Acinetobocter spp. strains isolated from three distinct Latin American countries.Conclusions: This study found that antimicrobial resistance is still a major issue among Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from some Latin American countries. the dissemination of a major bacterial cluster in different regions reinforces the importance of longitudinal surveillance programs, such as SENTRY, as valuable tools for monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility rates and guiding local interventions. (C) 2004 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Especial Microbiol Clin, Disciplina Doencas Infecciosas & Parasitarias, BR-04025010 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Maringa, Dept Anal Clin, Maringa, Parana, BrazilJones Grp, JMI Labs, N Liberty, IA USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Especial Microbiol Clin, Disciplina Doencas Infecciosas & Parasitarias, BR-04025010 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) and mutations in the topoisomerase genes of Salmonella enterica strains from Brazil

The objective of this study was to identify mutations in the Quinolone Resistance Determining sources Regions (QRDR) of the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes and to determine if any of the qnr variants or the aac(6')-Ib-cr variant were present in strains of Salmonella spp. isolated in Brazil. A total of 126 Salmonella spp. strains from epidemic (n = 114) and poultry (n = 12) origin were evaluated. One hundred and twelve strains (88.8%) were resistant to nalidixic acid (NAL) and 29 (23.01%) showed a reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (Cip). The mutations identified were substitutions limited to the QRDR of the gyrA gene in the codons for Serine 83, Aspartate 87 and Alanine 131. The sensitivity to NAL seems to be a good phenotypic indication of distinguishing mutated and nonmutated strains in the QRDR, however the double mutation in gyrA did not cause resistance to ciprofloxacin. The qnrA1 and qnrB19 genes were detected, respectively, in one epidemic strain of S. Enteritidis and one strain of S. Corvallis of poultry origin. Despite previous detection of qnr genes in Brazil, this is the first report of qnr gene detection in Salmonella, and also the first detection of qnrB19 gene in this country. The results alert for the continuous monitoring of quinolone resistance determinants in order to minimize the emergence and selection of Salmonella spp. strains showing reduced susceptibility or resistance to quinolones

Prevalência e perfil de sensibilidade de amostras de Staphylococcus aureus isoladas de casos clínicos de infecções hospitalares

Este estudo investigou a prevalência e o perfil de sensibilidade de amostras de Staphylococcus aureus isoladas de casos clínicos de infecções hospitalares, em um hospital de ensino, Londrina – Paraná, no período de 2004. Foi também comparado os resultados dos testes de susceptibilidade a oxacilina e vancomicina de 74 cepas, obtidos pelo sistema automatizado MicroScan® (Dade Bering, Sacramento, Califórnia, USA, utilizando Painéis MicroScan® PC 12 (Gram Positivo), com os resultados da técnica de  diluição em ágar com diferentes concentrações destes antimicrobianos. As  informações foram procedentes do banco de  dados das infecções hospitalares da Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar (CCIH). As amostras de S. aureus apresentaram amplo espectro de resistência frente as drogas testadas. A taxa média de prevalência de infecções hospitalares por S. aureus foi de 16,3% e a taxa média de prevalência de amostras oxacilina resistentes foi de 70,75%. Não se detectou amostras resistentes a vancomicina pelos 2 métodos. O método de diluição em ágar confirmou a resistência a oxacilina em 65 das 74 (83,75%) e as amostras avaliadas pelo sistema MicroScan® não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Para o antimicrobiano vancomicina, houve concordância em 100% entre os dois métodos.

Polymyxin-Resistant Acinetobacter spp. Isolates: What is Next?

Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Infect Dis, Lab Especial Microbiol Clin, BR-04025010 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Div Infect Dis, Lab Especial Microbiol Clin, BR-04025010 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Qualidade da água utilizada para equipamentos de hemodiálise em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva

There are rules and regulations for assessment of water quality services in ambulatory care unit and specific recommendations for the procedures performed in intensive care units (ICU) services. An exploratory study was conducted at hemodialysis equipment in ICU in a Southern Brazil city. Water samples were directly collected from the network public supply and from post-reverse osmosis associated with hemodialysis equipaments, monthly from January to June 2011. Mass spectrometry technique (quadrupolar type), associated with a source of inductive coupling plasma (ICP/MS) was applied to measure water trace metals levels. Bacteriological analyzes were performed to search for he-terotrophic bacteria. Data showed that the metal concentrations in the purified water of hemodialysis centers did not exceed legal standards. The bacteriological analysis of water for hemodialysis systems resulted as < 200 CFU/mL, according to legal limits in all evaluated months, with an exception on February. The results corroborate the fact that maintenance and precaution with the hemodialysis water are being effective. The avoidance of complications arising from chemical or microbiologic water contaminants, in ICU requires a constant attention, since patients conditions are different from those found in outpatient care.Existem critérios e regulamentos para a avaliação da qualidade da água em serviços de unidade de terapia ambulatorial e recomendações específicas para os procedimentos realizados em unidades de terapia intensiva (UTI). Um estudo exploratório foi conduzido em equipamentos de hemodiálise em UTI, em uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Amostras de água foram coletadas da rede de abastecimento público e pós-osmose reversa associa-da a dois aparelhos de hemodiálise, entre janeiro e junho de 2011. Espectrometria de emissão óptica com fonte de plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) foi utilizada para análise de metais em níveis de traços. Análises bacteriológicas foram realizadas para pesquisa de bactérias heterotróficas. Os dados obtidos mostraram que as concentrações dos metais não excederam os limites estabelecidos pela legislação. A análise bacterioló-gica da água para hemodiálise resultou em contagem inferior a 200 UFC/mL, em todos os meses avaliados, com exceção do mês de fevereiro. Os resultados obtidos corroboram o fato de que a manutenção e os cuidados necessários com a água para o tratamento dialítico têm sido efetivos. A prevenção de complicações decorrentes de contaminantes químicos ou microbiológicos na água para hemodiálise em UTI requer uma atenção constante, uma vez que as condições dos pacientes são diferentes daquelas encontradas em atendimento ambulatorial

WHO Critical Priority Escherichia coli as One Health Challenge for a Post-Pandemic Scenario: Genomic Surveillance and Analysis of Current Trends in Brazil.

The dissemination of carbapenem-resistant and third generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogens is a critical issue that is no longer restricted to hospital settings. The rapid spread of critical priority pathogens in Brazil is notably worrying, considering its continental dimension, the diversity of international trade, livestock production, and human travel. We conducted a nationwide genomic investigation under a One Health perspective that included Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans and nonhuman sources, over 45 years (1974-2019). One hundred sixty-seven genomes were analyzed extracting clinically relevant information (i.e., resistome, virulome, mobilome, sequence types [STs], and phylogenomic). The endemic status of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive strains carrying a wide diversity of variants, and the growing number of colistin-resistant isolates carrying -type genes was associated with the successful expansion of international ST10, ST38, ST115, ST131, ST354, ST410, ST648, ST517, and ST711 clones; phylogenetically related and shared between human and nonhuman hosts, and polluted aquatic environments. Otherwise, carbapenem-resistant ST48, ST90, ST155, ST167, ST224, ST349, ST457, ST648, ST707, ST744, ST774, and ST2509 clones from human host harbored and genes. A broad resistome to other clinically relevant antibiotics, hazardous heavy metals, disinfectants, and pesticides was further predicted. Wide virulome associated with invasion/adherence, exotoxin and siderophore production was related to phylogroup B2. The convergence of wide resistome and virulome has contributed to the persistence and rapid spread of international high-risk clones of critical priority E. coli at the human-animal-environmental interface, which must be considered a One Health challenge for a post-pandemic scenario. A One Health approach for antimicrobial resistance must integrate whole-genome sequencing surveillance data of critical priority pathogens from human, animal and environmental sources to track hot spots and routes of transmission and developing effective prevention and control strategies. As part of the Grand Challenges Explorations: New Approaches to Characterize the Global Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance Program, we present genomic data of WHO critical priority carbapenemase-resistant, ESBL-producing, and/or colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans and nonhuman sources in Brazil, a country with continental proportions and high levels of antimicrobial resistance. The present study provided evidence of epidemiological and clinical interest, highlighting that the convergence of wide virulome and resistome has contributed to the persistence and rapid spread of international high-risk clones of E. coli at the human-animal-environmental interface, which must be considered a One Health threat that requires coordinated actions to reduce its incidence in humans and nonhuman hosts