What workers can tell us about post-COVID workability.

BACKGROUND: The apparent functional impact of post-COVID-19 syndrome has workability implications for large segments of the working-age population. AIMS: To understand obstacles and enablers around self-reported workability of workers following COVID-19, to better guide sustainable workplace accommodations. METHODS: An exploratory online survey comprising quantitative and qualitative questions was disseminated via social media and industry networks between December 2020 and February 2021, yielding usable responses from 145 workers. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. RESULTS: Over half of the sample (64%) were from the health, social care, and education sectors. Just under 15% had returned to work, and 53% and 50% reported their physical and psychological workability respectively as moderate at best. Leading workability obstacles were multi-level, comprising fatigue, the interaction between symptoms and job, lack of control over job pressures, inappropriate sickness absence management policies, and lack of COVID-aware organizational cultures. Self-management support, modified work, flexible co-developed graded return-to-work planning, and improved line management competency were advocated as key enablers. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming appropriate medical management of any pathophysiological complications of COVID-19, maintaining or regaining post-COVID workability might reasonably follow a typical biopsychosocial framework enhanced to cater to the fluctuating nature of the symptoms. This should entail flexible, regularly reviewed and longer-term return-to-work planning addressing multi-level workability obstacles, co-developed between workers and line managers, with support from human resources, occupational health professionals (OHP's), and a COVID-aware organizational culture.

Molecular and genomic epidemiology of VIM/IMP-like metallo-ß-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa genotypes in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: To identify key factors of the expansion of metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MPPA) in Poland, focusing on the role of clonal epidemic(s). METHODS: MPPA isolates were typed by PFGE, followed by MLST. blaVIM/IMP MBL genes were amplified and sequenced within class 1 integrons. Their location was assessed by S1 nuclease-hybridization assays. Short-read WGS was performed, and genomes were subjected to SNP-based phylogenetic and resistome analyses. RESULTS: Of 1314 MPPA isolates collected in 2005-15 from 212 hospitals, 454 representatives were selected. The isolates belonged to 120 pulsotypes and 52 STs, of which ST235 (∼31%), ST111 (∼17%), ST273 (∼16%) and ST654 (∼9%) prevailed, followed by ST244, ST17, ST395, ST175 and ST1567. The isolates produced seven VIM variants (97.5%) and four IMPs encoded by 46 integrons, most of which were observed only or mainly in Poland. Around 60% of the isolates resulted from (inter)regional clonal outbreaks of 10 individual ST235, ST111, ST273 and ST654 genotypes. The phylogenetic analysis of 163 genomes revealed heterogeneity of ST235 and ST111 populations, arising from transnational circulation and on-site differentiation of several clades/branches. Contrarily, ST273 and ST654 formed relatively homogeneous and apparently Poland-specific lineages, and a unique ST273 genotype with integron In249 was the most expansive organism. CONCLUSIONS: Together with a previous report on self-transmissible In461-carrying IncP-2-type plasmids, this study revealed the molecular/genomic background of the rapid MPPA increase in Poland in 2001-15, evidencing multi-clonal spread as its leading factor. Numerous novel/specific MPPA characteristics were identified.

Towards endemicity: large-scale expansion of the NDM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 lineage in Poland, 2015-16.

OBJECTIVES: In 2015 and 2016 Poland recorded rapid proliferation of New Delhi MBL (NDM)-producing Enterobacterales, with at least 470 and 1780 cases, respectively. We addressed the roles of the Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 NDM-1 outbreak genotype, already spreading in 2012-14, and of newly imported organisms in this increase. METHODS: The study included 2136 NDM-positive isolates identified between April 2015 and December 2016, following transfer of patients with K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 from Tunisia to Warsaw in March 2015. The isolates were screened by PCR mapping for variants of blaNDM-carrying Tn125-like elements. Selected isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST. NDM-encoding plasmids were analysed by nuclease S1/hybridization, transfer assays, PCR-based replicon typing and PCR mapping. RESULTS: The organisms were mainly K. pneumoniae containing the Tn125A variant of the ST11 epidemic lineage (n = 2094; ∼98%). Their representatives were of the outbreak pulsotype and ST11, and produced NDM-1, encoded by specific IncFII (pKPX-1/pB-3002cz)-like plasmids. The isolates were recovered in 145 healthcare centres in 13/16 administrative regions, predominantly the Warsaw area. The 'Tunisian' genotype K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 Tn125F comprised 18 isolates (0.8%) from eight institutions. The remaining 24 isolates, mostly K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli of diverse STs, produced NDM-1 or NDM-5 specified by various Tn125 derivatives and plasmids. CONCLUSIONS: The K. pneumoniae ST11 NDM-1 outbreak has dramatically expanded in Poland since 2012, which may bring about a countrywide endemic situation in the near future. In addition, the so-far limited K. pneumoniae ST147 NDM-1 outbreak plus multiple NDM imports from different countries were observed in 2015-16.

VIM/IMP carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Poland: epidemic Enterobacter hormaechei and Klebsiella oxytoca lineages.

Objectives: To analyse VIM/IMP-type MBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates identified in Poland during 2006-12. Methods: Isolates were typed by PFGE, followed by MLST. blaVIM/IMP genes were amplified and sequenced within class 1 integrons. Their plasmidic versus chromosomal location was assessed by nuclease S1 and I-CeuI plus hybridization experiments. Plasmids were characterized by transfer assays and PCR-based replicon typing. Results: One hundred and nineteen VIM/IMP-positive Enterobacteriaceae cases were reported in Poland from the first case in 2006 until 2012. The patients were in 54 hospitals and were infected or colonized by 121 organisms, including Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 64), Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 23), Serratia marcescens (n = 20) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 11). The isolates represented numerous pulsotypes and mainly original STs, and carried eight integrons with blaVIM-1-like genes (blaVIM-1/-4/-28/-37/-40; n = 101), three with blaVIM-2 variants (blaVIM-2/-20; n = 17) and one with blaIMP-19 (n = 3). Six integrons were new, and five and two formed prevalent families of In238-like (n = 96) and In1008-like (n = 16) elements, respectively. In238 (aacA4-blaVIM-4rpt) and In1008 (blaVIM-2-aacA4) had been originally observed in Polish Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggestive of their transfer to enterobacteria, followed by spread and diversification. Four organisms have disseminated inter-regionally, i.e. Enterobacter hormaechei ST90 with plasmidic In238/In238a integrons (n = 36), K. oxytoca ST145 with a chromosomal In237-like element (n = 18) and two subclones of E. hormaechei ST89 with In1008- or In238-type variants (n = 8 and n = 7, respectively). Conclusions: The epidemiology of VIM/IMP-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Poland has revealed a remarkable number of specific or novel characteristics of the organisms, with some possible links to other mid-southern European countries.

Enterobacteriaceae producing OXA-48-like carbapenemases in Poland, 2013-January 2017.

Objectives: To analyse OXA-48 (OXA-48/181)-type carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae reported in Poland from 2013 until January 2017. Methods: Bacterial isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST. Genes coding for OXA-48/181 types and other ß-lactamases were amplified and sequenced. Mobile elements with blaOXA-48/181-like genes were PCR mapped. blaOXA-48/181-carrying plasmids were characterized by nuclease S1-hybridization profiling, transfer assays and PCR-based replicon typing, while the chromosomal location of the genes was confirmed by the I-CeuI analysis. Results: Fifty-four isolates from 52 patients in 20 hospitals (14 cities) were included, in 14 cases having probable foreign origins indicated. The organisms were genetically diverse and represented numerous pandemic clones, including Klebsiella pneumoniae ST395 (n = 23), ST11, ST15 and ST101, Escherichia coli ST38, ST410 and ST648, and Enterobacter cloacae complex ST78. These produced OXA-48 (n = 49), OXA-181 (n = 4) or OXA-232 (n = 1). One of five K. pneumoniae ST395 pulsotypes caused a multicentre outbreak with 18 cases, which significantly contributed to the total number of patients. Depending on the variant, the blaOXA-48/181-like genes were parts of the Tn1999-, Tn2013- or Tn2016-like transposons, with blaOXA-48 found in an ISEcp1-associated module (Tn2016-like) for the first time. Three genotypes, including E. coli ST38, had chromosomal blaOXA-48 genes, while others carried transmissible IncL (∼60 kb; blaOXA-48; n = 30), IncM (∼80-95 kb; blaOXA-48; n = 4), IncX3 (∼50 kb; blaOXA-181; n = 4) or non-typeable (∼90-160 kb; blaOXA-48 or blaOXA-232) plasmids. Conclusions: Even though OXA-48/181 producers seem to occur infrequently in Poland, their epidemiology has been marked by various phenomena, namely multiple imports, several limited transmissions plus one larger clonal outbreak, and possible plasmid transfers.

Evaluation of the Carba NP test for carbapenemase detection in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp., and its practical use in the routine work of a national reference laboratory for susceptibility testing.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Carba NP test (and CarbAcineto) for the detection of carbapenemases in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp., and to assess its usefulness in the routine work of the National Reference Centre for Susceptibility Testing (NRCST) in Poland. The evaluation of the Carba NP/CarbAcineto tests was carried out on a group of 81 Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. isolates producing KPC-, NDM-, VIM-, IMP- or OXA-48, -23, -24/40, -58-type carbapenemases, and on 26 carbapenemase-negative strains cultivated on a broad panel of microbiological media. Subsequently, the performance of the Carba NP/CarbAcineto tests was assessed on 1282 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. from Polish hospitals, submitted to the NRCST during a 9-month period in 2014. The Carba NP/CarbAcineto results were compared with other phenotypic tests and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The impact of the media on the results of the Carba NP/CarbAcineto tests was observed, with the Columbia blood agar yielding the highest sensitivity and clarity of the results. Furthermore, the Carba NP/CarbAcineto tests were included in the NRCST routine procedure for carbapenemase identification. The sensitivity and specificity of the Carba NP test were 95.8% and 93.3%, respectively, for Enterobacteriaceae, and 97.5% and 99.0%, respectively, for Pseudomonas spp. The sensitivity of the CarbAcineto test for Acinetobacter spp. was 88.9%. This study confirmed the usefulness of the Carba NP/CarbAcineto tests for the rapid detection of various types of carbapenemases.

NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Poland, 2012-14: inter-regional outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae ST11 and sporadic cases.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates reported in Poland in 2012-14. METHODS: Representative isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST. NDM and other ß-lactamase genes were amplified and sequenced. Plasmids with blaNDM genes were analysed by nuclease S1 plus hybridization profiling, by transfer assays and by PCR-based replicon typing. The blaNDM genetic context was studied by PCR mapping assays. RESULTS: Of 374 cases of infection/colonization with NDM-positive Enterobacteriaceae identified in 2012-14, 370 cases in 40 hospitals, 10 outpatient clinics and 1 nursing home were associated with a Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak with epicentres in Poznan and Warsaw. The outbreak strain of K. pneumoniae ST11 was similar to an isolate from the Czech Republic from 2013. Like the Czech strain, many of the isolates had two blaNDM-1-carrying IncFII- and IncR-type plasmids of variable size, sharing a blaNDM-1-containing segment. The early isolates also produced CTX-M-15 co-encoded by the IncR-type plasmids, and differentiated later by extensive plasmid rearrangements. Four other NDM cases were reported in 2013, three being associated with arrivals from Montenegro, India or Afghanistan. The Indian Escherichia coli ST448 NDM-5 isolate revealed similarity to a recent isolate from Spain, including the blaNDM genetic context observed previously in E. coli strains in Poland and France (of Congolese and Indian origins, respectively). The Afghani Proteus mirabilis was the second isolate of this species with a chromosomal blaNDM-1 location. CONCLUSIONS: The largest NDM outbreak in a non-endemic country has been observed, being an alarming phenomenon in resistance epidemiology in Poland.

KPC-Like Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Colonizing Patients in Europe and Israel.

In a 2008-2011 survey, 17,945 patients in 18 hospital units in Europe and Israel were screened for carriage of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, resulting in identification of 124 positive patients. The isolates were dominated by Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 258 (ST258) KPC-2 and ST512 KPC-3, mainly from Greece and Italy, respectively, whereas Israeli isolates were of diverse species, clones, and KPC variants. Various blaKPC platforms were observed, among which IncFIIK-FIBK plasmids with blaKPC-2/-3 genes in the Tn4401a transposon prevailed.

Phylogenetic lineages, clones and ß-lactamases in an international collection of Klebsiella oxytoca isolates non-susceptible to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine Klebsiella oxytoca clonal and phylogenetic diversity, based on an international collection of carriage isolates non-susceptible to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs). METHODS: The study material comprised 68 rectal carriage K. oxytoca isolates non-susceptible to ESCs recovered in 2008-11 from patients in 14 hospitals across Europe and Israel. ESC resistance was tested phenotypically; genes encoding ESBLs, AmpC cephalosporinases and carbapenemases were amplified and sequenced. The isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST, followed by sequencing of blaOXY genes. RESULTS: MLST and PFGE distinguished 34 STs and 47 pulsotypes among the isolates, respectively. Six STs were split into several pulsotypes each. Five STs were more prevalent (n = 2-9) and occurred in several countries each, including ST2, ST9 and ST141, which belong to a growing international clonal complex (CC), CC2. Four phylogenetic lineages were distinguished, each with another type of chromosomal OXY-type ß-lactamase. Three of these, with OXY-1/-5, OXY-2 types and OXY-4, corresponded to previously described phylogroups KoI, KoII and KoIV, respectively. A single isolate from Israel represented a distinct lineage with a newly defined OXY-7 type. The phylogroups showed interesting differences in mechanisms of ESC resistance; KoI strains rarely overexpressed the OXY enzymes but commonly produced ESBLs, whereas KoII strains often were OXY hyperproducers and carried ESBLs much less frequently. AmpCs (DHA-1) and carbapenemases (VIM-1) occurred sporadically. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the high genetic diversity of the collection of K. oxytoca ESC-non-susceptible isolates, composed of phylogroups with distinct types of OXY-type ß-lactamases, and revealed some STs of broad geographical distribution.

NDM-1- or OXA-48-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonising Polish tourists following a terrorist attack in Tunis, March 2015.

We describe the introduction of NDM-1-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 and Escherichia coli ST410, and OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae ST101 strains to Poland by two patients transported to the country after hospitalisation in Tunisia. The patients had gunshot wounds following the terrorist attack in the Bardo National Museum in Tunis in March 2015. Our report reinforces the need for microbiological screening of patients returning from travel on admission to healthcare institutions, especially following hospitalisation in countries where carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are endemic.

Survey of metallo-ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae colonizing patients in European ICUs and rehabilitation units, 2008-11.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to perform a multinational survey of patients' colonization by metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, including their molecular characterization. METHODS: Patients in 18 hospital units across Europe and Israel (n = 17 945) were screened between mid-2008 and mid-2011. MBL-producing isolates were typed by PFGE and MLST. MBL genes were amplified and sequenced within their integrons. Plasmids with MBL genes were analysed by nuclease S1 plus hybridization profiling, mating and transformation assays, and by PCR-based replicon typing. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients in nine centres (six countries), including 62 patients in two Greek ICUs, carried 94 non-duplicate MBL-producing organisms. Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Greece dominated (n = 57) and belonged mainly to ST147, ST36 and ST383. All but one of the isolates expressed VIM-1-type MBLs. Isolates of Greek origins produced five enzymes, including new VIM-39, encoded by class 1 integrons of four types. In-e541-like elements prevailed, comprising six variants located on IncR, IncFIIK, IncR + FIIK, IncR + A/C or non-typeable plasmids. The other group were new In4873 and In4863, being the first In416-like elements identified in Greece, which were present on IncA/C or non-typeable plasmids. Isolates from other countries produced only VIM-1 and the major integron was In916, identified in 16 organisms from France, Italy and Spain. In916 was carried by four plasmid types, including IncA/C, IncFIIK and IncHI2. Other integrons included a new element, In3103, in Spain and In110 identified only in Latvia. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided fully comparable data on the occurrence and molecular characteristics of VIM-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a group of hospital units across Europe, documenting recent changes in their epidemiology.

MLST reveals potentially high-risk international clones of Enterobacter cloacae.

OBJECTIVES: To perform the first multinational Enterobacter cloacae clonality study, using the MLST scheme newly developed in Japan. METHODS: The analysis included 195 rectal carriage E. cloacae isolates resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs), collected from patients in 12 hospital units across Europe and Israel. All of the isolates were typed by PFGE and 173 isolates were subjected to MLST. ESC resistance was analysed phenotypically; genes encoding ESBLs and carbapenemases were identified by PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: MLST distinguished 88 STs, which correlated with the PFGE data. PFGE was more discriminatory, producing 129 pulsotypes (169 patterns). Numerous STs were observed in several countries each. The most widespread were ST66, ST78, ST108 and ST114, each having at least 10 isolates from three to five countries, diversified into multiple pulsotypes, with clusters of related isolates in one or more centres. Analysis of the STs against the MLST database revealed several epidemic clonal complexes, such as those with central genotypes ST74 (including ST78) or ST114 (including ST66). ESC resistance was equally related to overexpression of the AmpC cephalosporinase and to ESBL production. Among ESBL producers some spreading subclones were identified, including specific ST66, ST78 and ST114 pulsotypes, associated with CTX-M-15 production. Several isolates produced carbapenemase VIM-1 or KPC-2. CONCLUSIONS: Together with the information available in the MLST database, our results suggest that, like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. cloacae harbours clonal lineages of increased epidemic potential that may be associated with resistance spread.

A multinational study of colonization with extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthcare personnel and family members of carrier patients hospitalized in rehabilitation centres.

The study aims were: (i) to define the prevalence of and risk factors for colonization by extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) -producing Enterobacteriaceae (EPE) among healthcare workers (HCWs) and family members (FMs) of EPE-colonized patients in rehabilitation units and (ii) to compare EPE isolates from these three groups. The study included 286 FMs of 194 EPE-carrying patients identified in five rehabilitation units located in Israel, Italy, France and Spain. The EPE were detected in rectal swabs from 26 (9%) of 286 FMs screened. In multivariate analyses, older age of FM, greater mean number of hours spent with the patient, being a daughter or a female spouse of a patient, and chronic lung disease of the patient were significantly associated with carriage in the FM. Escherichia coli was the most common organism (76%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (19%). Isolates were typed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing, and ESBLs were identified by PCR sequencing. A comparison of paired species isolates from FMs and their respective patient showed that 17 of 23 strains were indistinguishable. EPE were detected in 35 (3.5%, E. coli = 34) of the 1001 HCWs screened. Feeding patients was associated with EPE carriage by HCWs. Only 7 of 23 E. coli subclones cultured from HCWs were also represented among 376 patient-derived ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from the same rehabilitation units. In Spain, a higher proportion of HCWs and FMs were ESBL carriers than elsewhere (p <0.05). In conclusion, the molecular and epidemiological data suggest that FMs are at higher risk of EPE acquisition from their relative patients than HCWs.

The first NDM metallo-ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolate in Poland: evolution of IncFII-type plasmids carrying the bla(NDM-1) gene.

Poland's first Enterobacteriaceae isolate producing the New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM) was identified in August 2011. Escherichia coli sequence type ST410 NDM-1 was cultured from a critically ill patient who had been transferred directly from the Congo. The blaNDM-1 gene was carried by conjugative IncFII-type plasmid pMC-NDM (87,619 bp), which showed structural similarity to plasmid pGUE-NDM, which was identified earlier in France in an E. coli ST131 isolate of Indian origin.

Comparative population analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with extended-spectrum ß-lactamases colonizing patients in rehabilitation centers in four countries.

The international project MOSAR was conducted in five rehabilitation centers; patients were screened for rectal carriage of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing members of the Enterobacteriaceae. Among 229 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, four clonal groups (CG) or complexes (CC) prevailed: CG17 in France, CG101 in Italy, CG15 in Spain, and CC147 in Israel. ESBLs, mainly CTX-Ms, were produced by 226 isolates; three isolates expressed AmpC-like cephalosporinases. High genetic diversity of K. pneumoniae populations was observed, with specific characteristics at each center.

A binational cohort study of intestinal colonization with extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Proteus mirabilis in patients admitted to rehabilitation centres.

The aims of our study were to analyse the risk factors for colonization by Extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Proteus mirabilis (ESBL-PM) in rehabilitation patients and to characterize the molecular features of these strains. The study was conducted in two rehabilitation centres located in Rome, Italy (Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS (FSL)), and Tel-Aviv, Israel (Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TASMC)). Carriage of ESBL-PM was surveyed by rectal swabs. Strain typing was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Identification of ESBL genes was done by PCR and sequencing. Patients admitted to the same institutions without ESBL carriage were included as controls. The study group included 70 and 41 patients from FSL and TASMC, respectively. In FSL, the multivariate analysis identified severe acute brain injury (OR = 15, 95% CI = 3.2-69.5, p 0.001), decubitus ulcer (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.2-9.8, p 0.018) and recent treatment with quinolones (OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.07-30.1, p 0.042) as independent risk factors. ESBL-PM carriers stayed longer in the hospital on average and were less likely to be discharged home. No significant risk factor was identified in TASMC. There were no similarities in PFGE types or ESBL genes between the ESBL-PM isolates from the two institutions. In both hospitals, a variety of PFGE types existed but a single ESBL type predominated, namely TEM-92 in FSL (n = 64/70; 91%) and CTX-M-2 in TASMC (n = 37/41; 90%). A new TEM ESBL variant, TEM-177 was identified in FSL. The clonal diversity and the predominance of a single ESBL type suggested that horizontal gene transfer played an important role in dissemination of resistance. The development of a population analysis tool that would allow tracing deeper genetic relationships is required.

Clonal structure, extended-spectrum ß-lactamases, and acquired AmpC-type cephalosporinases of Escherichia coli populations colonizing patients in rehabilitation centers in four countries.

The prospective project MOSAR was conducted in five rehabilitation units: the Berck Maritime Hôpital (Berck, France), Fondazione Santa Lucia (Rome, Italy), Guttmann Institute (GI; Barcelona, Spain), and Loewenstein Hospital and Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center (TA) (Tel-Aviv, Israel). Patients were screened for carriage of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) from admission until discharge. The aim of this study was to characterize the clonal structure, extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs), and acquired AmpC-like cephalosporinases in the Escherichia coli populations collected. A total of 376 isolates were randomly selected. The overall number of sequence types (STs) was 76, including 7 STs that grouped at least 10 isolates from at least three centers each, namely, STs 10, 38, 69, 131, 405, 410, and 648. These clones comprised 65.2% of all isolates, and ST131 alone comprised 41.2%. Of 54 STs observed only in one center, some STs played a locally significant role, like ST156 and ST393 in GI or ST372 and ST398 in TA. Among 16 new STs, five arose from evolution within the ST10 and ST131 clonal complexes. ESBLs and AmpCs accounted for 94.7% and 5.6% of the ESC-hydrolyzing ß-lactamases, respectively, being dominated by the CTX-M-like enzymes (79.9%), followed by the SHV (13.5%) and CMY-2 (5.3%) types. CTX-M-15 was the most prevalent ß-lactamase overall (40.6%); other ubiquitous enzymes were CTX-M-14 and CMY-2. Almost none of the common clones correlated strictly with one ß-lactamase; although 58.7% of ST131 isolates produced CTX-M-15, the clone also expressed nine other enzymes. A number of clone variants with specific pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and ESBL types were spread in some locales, potentially representing newly emerging E. coli epidemic strains.