Association of Phylogenomic Relatedness among Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains with Antimicrobial Resistance, Austria, 2016-2020.

We investigated genomic determinants of antimicrobial resistance in 1,318 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Austria during 2016-2020. Sequence type (ST) 9363 and ST11422 isolates had high rates of azithromycin resistance, and ST7363 isolates correlated with cephalosporin resistance. These results underline the benefit of genomic surveillance for antimicrobial resistance monitoring.

Rifampicin Resistance Associated with rpoB Mutations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae Clinical Strains Isolated in Austria, 2016 to 2020.

Due to increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae, alternative treatments should be considered. To assess rifampicin's potential as a gonorrhea treatment, we used rpoB mutations to estimate rifampicin resistance in Austrian N. gonorrhoeae isolates. We found 30% of resistant isolates clustering in three main phylogenomic branches. Rifampicin resistance was associated with resistance to other antibiotics. Therefore, rifampicin cannot be recommended as an alternative gonorrhea treatment in Austria, even in combination therapy. IMPORTANCE Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections. It is treated with antibiotics, but an increasing number of N. gonorrhoeae strains are resistant to currently used treatments. In this study, we explored the potential of rifampicin, another antibiotic, as a treatment option for gonorrhea. However, around 30% of Austrian N. gonorrhoeae strains investigated were already resistant to rifampicin, which would limit its benefit as a gonorrhea treatment.

Antibody kinetics in primary- and secondary-care physicians with mild to moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Three hundred and ninety-seven primary- and secondary-care physicians were tested for the presence of IgG (and IgA) antibodies against SARS-coronavirus-2 with a commercially available ELISA. In 19 of 20 individuals with PCR-proven infection and only mild to moderate symptoms not requiring hospitalization positive IgG levels occurred within two to three weeks. Among the remaining 377 persons without clear-cut evidence of infection, unequivocally positive IgG antibodies were found in only one, showing a surprisingly low prevalence (0.3%, 95% CI: 0.01-1.5) in physicians with likely contacts with infected patients in a region highly affected by the pandemic (Tyrol, Austria).

Dominance of CTX-M group 1 beta-lactamase enzymes in ESBL producing E. coli from outpatient urines in neighboring regions of Austria and Italy.

The importance of extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) is increasing worldwide. ESBLs of the CTX-M type are on the rise in Europe, not only in the hospital environment but also in outpatients. Therefore we performed a comparative pilot study including ESBL producing Escherichia coli isolated from outpatients suffering from urinary tract infections, 28 from Innsbruck, Austria, and 34 from Bolzano, Italy. Using established PCR methods we detected in nearly 90% of ESBL producing E. coli isolates CTX-M group 1 enzymes and only a few group 2 or group 9 enzymes. bla (TEM), bla (OXA-1) and aminoacyltransferase aac(6')-lb were significantly more frequent in the Austrian region, where also bla (SHV )was found in one isolate. In 2009 the overall prevalence of ESBL in E. coli causing urinary tract infection in outpatient samples was 7.6% in a local laboratory in Innsbruck and 5% in Bolzano. Additionally, we investigated plasmid-mediated qnr genes which can contribute to quinolone resistance, qnrA was found in an AmpC producing E. coli from Innsbruck and qnrS in two ESBL producers from Bolzano. Data confirmed that ESBL-producing E. coli have emerged as important pathogens in urinary tract infections of outpatients in both regions.

Infection of red deer, cattle, and humans with Mycobacterium bovis subsp. caprae in western Austria.

Twelve cases of Mycobacterium bovis subsp. caprae infection have occurred in four humans, three cattle, and five red deer in western Austria since 1994. DNA-fingerprinting of the isolates suggested transmission in and between these species over several years. Contact with cattle, but not with goats, was found to be associated with three of four human cases.