Tracing the possible evolutionary trends of Morganella morganii: insights from molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis.

Morganella morganii, encompassing two subspecies, subsp. morganii and subsp. sibonii, is a common opportunistic pathogen, notable for intrinsic resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents. Despite its clinical significance, research into the potential evolutionary dynamics of M. morganii remains limited. This study involved the analysis of genome sequences from 431 M. morganii isolates, comprising 206 isolates that cause host infections, obtained from this study and 225 from the NCBI genome data sets. A diverse array of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) was identified in M. morganii isolates, including mcr-1, tet(X4), tmexCD-toprJ, and various carbapenemase genes. In addition, a novel blaKPC-2-bearing plasmid with demonstrated conjugative capability was discovered in M. morganii. The majority of virulence-related genes (VRGs), except for the hlyCABD gene cluster, were found in almost all M. morganii. Three novel genospecies of M. morganii were identified, designated as M. chanii, M. variant1, and M. variant2. Compared to M. sibonii, M. chanii genospecies possessed a greater number of flagellar-related genes, typically located within mobile genetic elements (MGEs), suggesting potential for better environmental adaptability. Phylogenetic analysis further disclosed that M. morganii was divided into 12 sequence clusters (SCs). Particularly, SC9 harbored an elevated abundance of ARGs and VRGs, mainly toxin-related genes, and was associated with a higher presence of MGEs compared to non-SC9 strains. The collective findings suggest that M. morganii undergoes evolution driven by the influence of MGEs, thereby significantly enhancing its adaptability to selective pressures of environmental changes and clinical antimicrobial agents.IMPORTANCEThe growing clinical significance of Morganella morganii arises from its abundant virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes, resulting in elevated infection rates and increased clinical scrutiny. However, research on the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary trends of M. morganii has been scarce. Our study established a list of virulence-related genes (VRGs) for M. morganii and conducted a large-scale epidemiological investigation into these VRGs. Based on genomic classification, three novel genotypes of M. morganii were identified, representing evolutionary adaptations and responses to environmental challenges. Furthermore, we discovered the emergence of a sequence cluster enriched with antimicrobial resistance genes, VRGs, and mobile genetic elements, attributed to the selective pressure of antimicrobial agents. In addition, we identified a novel conjugative plasmid harboring the blaKPC-2 gene. These findings hold significance in monitoring and comprehending the epidemiology of M. morganii.

Wound Infections from Taiwan Cobra (Naja atra) Bites: Determining Bacteriology, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and the Use of Antibiotics-A Cobra BITE Study.

Wound necrosis and secondary infection are common complications after Naja atra bites. Clinical tools to evaluate the infection risk after Taiwan cobra bites are lacking. In this Cobra BITE study, we investigated the prevalence of wound infection, bacteriology, and corresponding antibiotic usage in patients presenting with Taiwan cobra snakebites. Patients with wound infection lacking tissue necrosis were included in developing Cobra BITE score utilizing univariate and multiple logistic regression, as patients with wound necrosis require antibiotics for infection treatment. 8,295,497 emergency department visits occurred in the span of this study, with 195 of those patients being diagnosed as having cobra bites. Of these patients, 23 had wound necrosis, and 30 had wound infection, resulting in a wound infection rate of 27.2% (53/195). Enterococcus faecalis and Morganella morganii were the main bacteria identified in the culture report regardless of whether patients' wounds had necrosis. As per our Cobra BITE score, the three factors predicting secondary wound infection after cobra bites are hospital admission, a white blood cell count (in 103/µL) × by neu-trophil-lymphocyte ratio value of ≥114.23, and the use of antivenin medication. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the Cobra BITE score system was 0.88; ideal sensitivity and specificity were 0.89 and 0.76. This scoring system enables the assessment of wound infections after N. atra bites, and it could be modified and improved in the future for other Naja spp. bites.

Molecular characterization of a novel bla CTX-M-3-carrying Tn6741 transposon in Morganella morganii isolated from swine.

Introduction. The bla CTX-M-3 gene has rarely been reported in Morganella morganii strains and its genetic environment has not yet been investigated.Aim. To identify the bla CTX-M-3 gene in M. morganii isolated from swine and characterize its genetic environment.Methodology. A M. morganii isolate (named MM1L5) from a deceased swine was identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The bla genes were detected and then the genetic location and environment of bla CTX-M-3 were investigated by Southern blot and PCR mapping, respectively. The M. morganii bla CTX-M-3 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli.Results. Isolate MM1L5 harboured the bla CTX-M-3 and bla TEM-1 genes. The bla CTX-M-3 gene, located on the chromosome, was co-carried with an IS26 and bla TEM-1 gene by a novel 6361 bp IS26-flanked composite transposon, designated Tn6741. This transposon consisted of a novel bla CTX-M-3-containing module, IS26-ΔISEcp1-bla CTX-M-3-Δorf477-IS26 (named Tn6710), and a bla TEM-1-containing module, IS26-Δorf477-bla TEM-1-tnpR-IS26, differing from previous reports. Phylogenetic analysis showed a significant variation based on the sequence of Tn6741, as compared to those of other related transposons. Interestingly, although the cloned bla CTX-M-3 gene could confer resistance to ceftiofur, cefquinome, ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, one amino acid substitution (Ile-142-Thr) resulted in a significant reduction of resistance to these antimicrobials.Conclusion. This is the first time that bla CTX-M-3 has been identified on a chromosome from a M. morganii isolate. Furthermore, the bla CTX-M-3 gene was located with an IS26 element and bla TEM-1 gene on a novel IS26-flanked composite transposon, Tn6741, suggesting that Tn6741 might act as a reservoir for the bla CTX-M-3 and bla TEM-1 genes and may become an important vehicle for their dissemination among M. morganii.

Highly multidrug-resistant Morganella morganii clinical isolates from Nepal co-producing NDM-type metallo-ß-lactamases and the 16S rRNA methylase ArmA.

Morganella morganii can harbour extended-spectrum ß-lactamases and carbapenemases, resulting in increased resistance to multiple antibiotics and a high mortality rate. This study describes the emergence of highly multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of M. morganii from Nepal co-producing NDM-type metallo-ß-lactamases, including NDM-1 and NDM-5, and the 16S rRNA methylase ArmA. This is the first report of M. morganii clinical isolates from Nepal co-producing NDM-1/-5 and ArmA. It is important to establish infection control systems and effective treatments against multidrug-resistant M. morganii.

Genomic analysis of two drug-resistant clinical Morganella morganii strains isolated from UTI patients in Pretoria, South Africa.

Morganella morganii is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of the Enterobacteriaceae family that is occasionally isolated from clinical (animal and human) specimens with varying resistance profiles. Detailed genomic analyses of drug-resistant M. morganii strains are relatively limited, particularly in Africa, which is also due to their relatively low isolation rates from clinical settings. Here we report on two multidrug-resistant clinical M. morganii isolates from urine specimens of two hospitalized patients in South Africa who presented with urinary tract infections in 2013. The isolates, M006 and E042, were only susceptible to carbapenems, amikacin and tigecycline. One strain, M006, had a novel class 1 integron, ln1484, associated with aadA7, sul1and gcuD gene cassettes and a Col3M plasmid replicase gene. The ln1484 intI1:aadA7:sul1 genes were bracketed by a TnAs3 composite transposon while a tet(B) gene was found on an IS4 family transposon. The rare blaDHA-4 and blaDHA-1 AmpC ß-lactamase genes were identified on the isolates' chromosome. The isolates were phylogenetically distant and closely related to other international strains, suggesting that they were not obtained from a single epidemiological source. Further molecular surveillance is necessary to establish the prevalence of these MDR strains in the tertiary hospital. Moreover antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic sensitivity testing of all clinical isolates should be undertaken after empirical treatment to inform tailored therapy as well as reduce escalation of resistance and associated morbidities and mortalities. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We report on the first clinical Morganella morganii draft genomes from Africa. The isolates were found in the urine of patients presenting with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Notably, they were resistant to important clinical antibiotics, including those used to treat UTIs. Due to the common occurrence of UTIs, particularly among pregnant women for whom drug options are limited, the presence of antibiotic-resistant uropathogens such as M. morganii is a serious public health concern. We therefore characterized the resistance mechanisms and epidemiology of these isolates to provide further insights into their dissemination and background data for future studies.

Susceptibility evolution to antibiotics of Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella aerogenes and Citrobacter freundii involved in urinary tract infections: an 11-year epidemiological surveillance study. / Evolución de la sensibilidad a los antibióticos de Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella aerogenes y Citrobacter freundii causantes de infecciones del tracto urinario: un estudio de vigilancia epidemiológica de 11 años.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to analyse the susceptibility to antibiotic of Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens, Providencia stuartii and Morganella morganii (CESPM group), detected in urine cultures. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2016 we analyzed CESPM group Enterobacteria isolated from urine cultures from both primary health-care centers and Hospital Virgen de las Nieves (Granada). We studied the susceptibility to aminoglycosides, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, quinolones, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, imipenem and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole following CLSI interpretation criteria. RESULTS: A total of 736 isolates were studied: 30.57% E. cloacae, 23.50% M. morganii, 20.38% K. aerogenes, 10.32% C. freundii, 8.83% S. marcescens and 6.38% P. stuartii. A significant decrease in the antibiotic susceptibility was observed. Gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and cefepime showed susceptibility over 80%. CONCLUSIONS: E. cloacae, M. morganii and K. aerogenes were the most common isolates. Cefepime and imipenem are still a good empiric therapeutic alternative given its activity in vitro.

Ciprofloxacin Promoted qnrD Expression and Phylogenetic Analysis of qnrD Harboring Plasmids.

Morganella morganii SE10MM harboring quinolone resistance determinant qnrD was investigated in our study. An entirely sequenced novel 2,662 bp qnrD-plasmid pSE10MM was identified and deposited at GenBank under accession number KU160530. Nucleic acid sequence of pSE10MM showed 94-97% similarity to previously detected qnrD-plasmids of Proteus mirabilis strains. Phylogenetic analysis by Geneious 9.0.5 showed clusters of plasmids with possible common origin. Initial expression of qnrD gene was found 12.5 normalized to rpoB housekeeping gene. Subsequently, a sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (1 mg/L) ciprofloxacin exposure resulted in a fold change of 30.06 at 24 hours. In contrast, qnrD-plasmid pSE10MM copy number increased in time from 1.1 to 6.63. Chromosomal mutations of gyrA with S83I, gyrB with S463A, and parC with S80I amino acid substitutions were detected, but no other mutations have occurred as a consequence of ciprofloxacin exposure. Elevated expression of qnrD correlated with that of recA in M. morganii during ciprofloxacin exposure, which indicates SOS-dependent regulation of qnrD. Protective effect of QnrD plays a role in fluoroquinolone-resistant strain even in the presence of chromosomal mutations in gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

A novel cfr-carrying Tn7 transposon derivative characterized in Morganella morganii of swine origin in China.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the presence and genetic environment of the multiresistance gene cfr in bacterial isolates from a swine farm. METHODS: A total of 97 bacterial isolates, recovered from 32 faecal swabs obtained on one farm, were tested for the presence of the cfr gene by PCR. Species identification of the one cfr-positive strain was conducted using the BD PhoenixTM 100 Automated Microbiology System. Susceptibility testing was carried out by broth microdilution. The genetic environment of the cfr gene was analysed by WGS. RESULTS: The Morganella morganii isolate BCMM24 was the only cfr-positive strain. The cfr gene, as well as 15 other resistance genes, is located on a novel 111238 bp transposon derived from Tn7, designated as Tn6451, which comprises various genetic materials including a novel class 1 integron with five gene cassettes. The cfr-containing region consists of a novel genetic structure IS26-cfr-ΔTn554 tnpB-ΔTn3 family tnpA-IS26, differing from previous reports. Two-step PCR results show that the structure can be looped out and that Tn6451 cannot be excised from the chromosome. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, we report the cfr gene in M. morganii for the first time. The cfr gene and 15 other resistance genes are located on a novel Tn7 transposon derivative, suggesting that the Tn7 transposon may act as a reservoir for various antimicrobial resistance genes and more Tn7 derivatives carrying multiple resistance genes are likely to be discovered in Gram-negative bacteria of both animal and human origin.

Characterization of KPC-Encoding Plasmids from Enterobacteriaceae Isolated in a Czech Hospital.

Ten Enterobacteriaceae isolates collected in a Czech hospital carried blaKPC-positive plasmids of different sizes (∼30, ∼45, and ∼80 kb). Sequencing revealed three types of plasmids (A to C) with the Tn4401a transposon. Type A plasmids comprised an IncR backbone and a KPC-2-encoding multidrug resistance (MDR) region. Type B plasmids were derivatives of type A plasmids carrying an IncN3-like segment, while type C plasmids were IncP6 plasmids sharing the same KPC-2-encoding MDR region with type A and B plasmids.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for infectious stomatitis in snakes: Clinical views and microbiological findings.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has been broadly investigated as an alternative to treat localized infections, without leading to the selection of resistant microorganisms. Infectious stomatitis is a multifactorial disease frequently reported in captive snakes characterized by infection of the oral mucosa and surrounding tissues. In this study, we investigated methylene blue (MB)-mediated APDT to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes and verified the resistance phenotype and genotype before and after APDT. METHODS: Three Boid snakes presented petechiae, edema and caseous material in their oral cavities. MB (0.01%) was applied on the lesions and after 5min they were irradiated using a red laser (λ=660nm), fluence of 280J/cm2, 8J and 80s per point, 100mW, spot size 0.028cm2 and fluence rate of 3.5W/cm2. APDT was repeated once a week during 3 months. Samples of the lesions were collected to identify bacteria and antibiotic resistance profiles. To analyze the clonality of bacterial isolates before and after APDT, isolates were subjected to ERIC PCR analysis. RESULTS: Snakes presented clinical improvement such as reduction of inflammatory signs and caseous material. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were present in all snakes; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Morganella morganii were also identified in some animals. We also observed that the oral microbiota was completely replaced following APDT. However, K. pneumoniae isolates before and after APDT were a single clone with 100% of genetic similarity that lost resistance phenotype for seven antibiotics of four classes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that APDT can be used to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes.

Successful Treatment of PD Peritonitis Due to Morganella morganii Resistant to Third-Generation Cephalosporins - A Case Report.

Morganella morganii is a rare cause of peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Most of the reported cases have resorted to a switch to hemodialysis. We herein report a case of peritonitis due to M. morganii resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, which was treated successfully with intraperitoneal (IP) tobramycin followed by oral ciprofloxacin. Early microbiologic diagnosis is essential in the treatment of peritonitis from rare microorganisms such as Morganella morganii, and appropriate antibiotic therapy is the key to avoiding catheter loss and subsequent switch to hemodialysis.

Very high prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in bacteriemic patients hospitalized in teaching hospitals in Bamako, Mali.

The worldwide dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae, (ESBL-E) and their subset producing carbapenemases (CPE), is alarming. Limited data on the prevalence of such strains in infections from patients from Sub-Saharan Africa are currently available. We determined, here, the prevalence of ESBL-E/CPE in bacteriemic patients in two teaching hospitals from Bamako (Mali), which are at the top of the health care pyramid in the country. During one year, all Enterobacteriaceae isolated from bloodstream infections (E-BSI), were collected from patients hospitalized at the Point G University Teaching Hospital and the pediatric units of Gabriel Touré University Teaching Hospital. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, enzyme characterization and strain relatedness were determined. A total of 77 patients had an E-BSI and as many as 48 (62.3%) were infected with an ESBL-E. ESBL-E BSI were associated with a previous hospitalization (OR 3.97 95% IC [1.32; 13.21]) and were more frequent in hospital-acquired episodes (OR 3.66 95% IC [1.07; 13.38]). Among the 82 isolated Enterobacteriaceae, 58.5% were ESBL-E (20/31 Escherichia coli, 20/26 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 8/15 Enterobacter cloacae). The remaining (5 Salmonella Enteritidis, 3 Morganella morganii 1 Proteus mirabilis and 1 Leclercia adecarboxylata) were ESBL negative. CTX-M-1 group enzymes were highly prevalent (89.6%) among ESBLs; the remaining ones being SHV. One E. coli produced an OXA-181 carbapenemase, which is the first CPE described in Mali. The analysis of ESBL-E relatedness suggested a high rate of cross transmission between patients. In conclusion, even if CPE are still rare for the moment, the high rate of ESBL-BSI and frequent cross transmission probably impose a high medical and economic burden to Malian hospitals.

High Carbapenem Resistance in Clinical Gram-Negative Pathogens Isolated in Egypt.

The emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria poses a serious threat to human health worldwide. Currently, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying carbapenem resistance and their prevalence among gram-negative bacteria in Egypt. In this study, we analyzed carbapenemase production in gram-negative bacteria isolated from hospitalized patients in Egypt in 2014. All isolates were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility testing for carbapenem resistance. Our results indicated a high level of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria in Egypt, with 50.8% of the isolates harboring at least one carbapenem resistance gene. OXA-48-like and NDM-1 were the most prevalent carbapenemases, being detected in 49.2%, and 47.7% of carbapenemase-positive isolates, respectively, whereas Verona integron-encoded metallo-ß-lactamase (VIM) was detected in only 26.2% of carbapenemase-positive isolates. This study reports for the first time carbapenemase-producing Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, and blaVIM-1-like-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Egypt. It is also the first demonstration of the coexistence of different carbapenemases, being detected in 21.5% of carbapenemase-positive isolates. Effective antibiotic supervision, regional surveillance, and early detection of carbapenemase producers are imperative to prevent their future spread to epidemic levels.

Morganella morganii, a non-negligent opportunistic pathogen.

Morganella morganii belongs to the tribe Proteeae of the Enterobacteriaceae family. This species is considered as an unusual opportunistic pathogen that mainly causes post-operative wound and urinary tract infections. However, certain clinical M. morganii isolates present resistance to multiple antibiotics by carrying various resistant genes (such as blaNDM-1, and qnrD1), thereby posing a serious challenge for clinical infection control. Moreover, virulence evolution makes M. morganii an important pathogen. Accumulated data have demonstrated that M. morganii can cause various infections, such as sepsis, abscess, purple urine bag syndrome, chorioamnionitis, and cellulitis. This bacterium often results in a high mortality rate in patients with some infections. M. morganii is considered as a non-negligent opportunistic pathogen because of the increased levels of resistance and virulence. In this review, we summarized the epidemiology of M. morganii, particularly on its resistance profile and resistant genes, as well as the disease spectrum and risk factors for its infection.

Molecular investigation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes and potential drug resistance in clinical isolates of Morganella morganii.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics has become more common in Morganella morganii, which can cause of outbreaks of bacteremia and septicemia in postoperative patients. OBJECTIVE: Investigate drug susceptibility of M morganii, identify the gene responsible for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and explore treatment options. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Hospitals in An Najaf, Iraq. METHODS: M morganii isolates were identified based on morphology, biochemical tests and VITEK® 2 compact system using (GN-ID) card. M morganii isolates were subjected to antibiotic resistance tests using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) technique and an antibiogram was produced. Molecular studies were conducted using the polymerase chain reaction technique. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Minimum inhibitory concentration. RESULTS: From 395 gram-negative bacteria, only 17 isolates M morganii grew on MacConkey agar. M morganii isolates strongly resistant to several antibiotics were considered multidrug resistant. All M morganii isolates were ESBL producers. Four genes (CTX-M, SHV, TEM and OXA) encoding the b-lactamase enzyme were detected. Meropenem and imipenem were highly active against the M morganii isolates. CONCLUSIONS: All isolates showed resistance to most common antibiotics, which limits options for treatment. This study provided useful information for selecting antibiotics to precisely target infections caused by M morganii. LIMITATIONS: Limited to antibiotic susceptibility and genotype.

Inhibition of Morganella morganii Histidine Decarboxylase Activity and Histamine Accumulation in Mackerel Muscle Derived from Filipendula ulumaria Extracts.

Filipendula ulmaria, also known as meadowsweet, is an herb; its extract was examined for the prevention of histamine production, primarily that caused by contaminated fish. The efficacy of meadowsweet was assessed using two parameters: inhibition of Morganella morganii histidine decarboxylase (HDC) and inhibition of histamine accumulation in mackerel. Ellagitannins from F. ulmaria (rugosin D, rugosin A methyl ester, tellimagrandin II, and rugosin A) were previously shown to be potent inhibitors of human HDC; and in the present work, these compounds inhibited M. morganii HDC, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 1.5, 4.4, 6.1, and 6.8 µM, respectively. Application of the extracts (at 2 wt%) to mackerel meat yielded significantly decreased histamine accumulation compared with treatment with phosphate-buffered saline as a control. Hence, F. ulmaria exhibits inhibitory activity against bacterial HDC and might be effective for preventing food poisoning caused by histamine.

War wound treatment complications due to transfer of an IncN plasmid harboring bla(OXA-181) from Morganella morganii to CTX-M-27-producing sequence type 131 Escherichia coli.

A 22-year-old male developed a recurrent sacral abscess associated with embedded shrapnel following a blast injury. Cultures grew extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, carbapenem-susceptible Escherichia coli. Ertapenem was administered, but the infection recurred after each course of antibiotics. Initial surgical interventions were unsuccessful, and subsequent cultures yielded E. coli and Morganella morganii, both nonsusceptible to carbapenems. The isolates were Carba NP test negative, gave ambiguous results with the modified Hodge test, and amplified the bla(OXA48)-like gene by real-time PCR. All E. coli isolates were sequence type 131 (ST131), carried nine resistance genes (including bla(CTX-M-27)) on an IncF plasmid, and were identical by genome sequencing, except for 150 kb of plasmid DNA in carbapenem-nonsusceptible isolates only. Sixty kilobases of this was shared by M. morganii and represented an IncN plasmid harboring bla(OXA-181). In M. morganii, the gene was flanked by IS3000 and ISKpn19, but in all but one of the E. coli isolates containing bla(OXA-181), a second copy of ISKpn19 had inserted adjacent to IS3000. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of bla(OXA-181) in the virulent ST131 clonal group and carried by the promiscuous IncN family of plasmids. The tendency of M. morganii to have high MICs of imipenem, a bla(OXA-181) substrate profile that includes penicillins but not extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and weak carbapenemase activity almost resulted in the presence of bla(OXA-181) being overlooked. We highlight the importance of surveillance for carbapenem resistance in all species, even those with intrinsic resistances, and the value of advanced molecular techniques in detecting subtle genetic changes.

Emergence of New Sequence Type OXA-48 Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Kuwait.

The aim of this study was to investigate the infections due to OXA-48 carbapenemase-producing bacteria in tertiary hospitals in Kuwait (September 2011 to April 2013) and to determine the sequence types (STs) of the corresponding isolates. Eleven OXA-48 carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered from patients treated in nine different hospitals in Kuwait. Susceptibility testing to eighteen antibiotics was done using the E-test. PCR assays were performed for the detection of genes encoding extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) (blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM) and carbapenemases (blaOXA-48, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaGIM, and blaKPC). STs were determined by Multilocus Sequence Typing. Seven Klebsiella pneumoniae, two Escherichia coli, one Enterobacter cloacae, and one Morganella morganii harbored the blaOXA-48 gene. The K. pneumoniae and E. coli belonged to seven and two different STs, respectively, which were not related to those reported from this region. The majority of the isolates carried either blaCTX-M or blaSHV genes and showed a multidrug-resistant phenotype, including resistance to tigecycline. Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae harboring the blaOXA-48 gene are emerging in Kuwait with different STs compared to those identified in other countries of the region. Detection of OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Kuwait is important to prevent its rapid spread.

Clinical manifestations and prognostic factors of Morganella morganii bacteremia.

Although Morganella morganii causes a variety of clinical infections, there are limited studies on M. morganii bacteremia after the year 2000. A total of 109 patients with M. morganii bacteremia at a medical center in Taiwan from 2003 to 2012 were studied. Among them, 30.3 % had polymicrobial bacteremia and 75.2 % had community-acquired infection. The most common underlying diseases were hypertension (62.4 %) and diabetes mellitus (38.5 %). The urinary tract (41.3 %) was the major portal of entry, followed by the hepatobiliary tract (27.5 %), skin and soft tissue (21.1 %), and primary bacteremia (10.1 %). Susceptibility testing of M. morganii isolates showed ubiquitous resistance to first-generation cephalosporins and ampicillin-clavulanate; resistance rates to gentamicin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and ciprofloxacin were 30.3 %, 1.8 %, and 10.1 %, respectively. Overall, the 14-day mortality was 14.7 %. Univariate analysis revealed that elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values [p = 0.0137, odds ratio (OR) 5.26], intensive care unit (ICU) admission (p = 0.011, OR 4.4), and higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores (p < 0.001, OR 1.62) were significantly associated with mortality. The APACHE II score remained the only significant risk factor for mortality in multivariate analysis (p = 0.0012, OR 1.55). In conclusion, M. morganii bacteremia patients were mostly elderly, with one or more comorbidities. Most of the patients had community-acquired infection via the urinary and hepatobiliary tracts. Furthermore, prognosis can be predicted according to disease severity measured by the APACHE II score.