Antibiotic Susceptibility Profiles of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from Abscesses in Cattle and Sheep at a Slaughterhouse in Algeria.

Abscesses represent the most prominent emerging problem in the red meat industry, leading to great economic constraints and public health hazards. Data on etiological agents present in these purulent lesions in Algeria are very scarce. The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria responsible for these abscesses and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. A total of 123 samples of abscesses from 100 slaughtered sheep and 23 slaughtered cattle were cultured in several media. A total of 114 bacterial isolates were cultured from 103 abscesses. Bacteria were identified using MALDI-TOF, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. A total of 73.6% (n = 84) corresponded to Enterobacterales, of which four were multidrug-resistant (MDR). These isolates, together with Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococci, and seven randomly chosen susceptible Escherichia coli isolates, were further characterized using WGS. Resistome analysis of the four MDR Enterobacterales isolates revealed the presence of OXA-48 carbapenemase in two Klebsiella pneumoniae ST985 and one E. coli ST10 isolates and a CTX-M-15 ESBL in one E. coli isolate ST1706. Two coagulase-negative Staphylococci isolates were found to carry the mecA gene. WGS showed the presence of different resistance genes and virulence genes. Our study revealed 5% of MDR Enterobacterales (including ESBLs and carbapenemases) identified from abscesses, thus urging the need for abscess monitoring in slaughterhouses.

The occurrence of the carbapenemase gene, blaNDM-5, on a transmissible IncX3 plasmid in multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a farm dog.

OBJECTIVES: In-depth phenotypic and genomic analyses on a carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli isolate, recovered from the faeces of a farm dog in Lebanon, focusing on its antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns and the underlying resistome. METHODS: E. coli strain EC-106 was identified using MALDI-TOF-MS. Analyses using Carba NP, immunochromatographic assay NG Carba5, and other antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina technology and different software available at the Center of Genomic Epidemiology wwere used to predict the resistome, sequence type (ST), plasmid types, and virulence genes. RESULTS: Susceptibility testing revealed that E. coli EC-106 was multi-drug resistant, including against newer antimicrobials such as imipenem-relebactam (MIC = 16 µg/mL), meropenem-vaborbactam (MIC = 16 µg/mL), and ceftazidime-avibactam (MIC > 32 µg/mL), but remained susceptible to aztreonam (MIC = 0.12 µg/mL), aztreonam-avibactam (MIC = 0.06 µg/mL), and cefiderocol (MIC = 0.5 µg/mL). WGS analyses showed that E. coli EC-106 carried 13 acquired resistance genes associated with resistance to ß-lactams (blaNDM-5 and blaTEM-1B), aminoglycosides (aac(3)-IId, aph(3')-Ia, aadA1, and aadA2), tetracyclines (tetA), amphenicols (partial catA1), macrolides (mphA), sulphonamides (sul1 and sul3), trimethoprim (dfrA12), and quaternary ammonium compounds (partial qacE). The blaNDM-5 was located on an IncX3 plasmid. The isolate was predicted to be a human pathogen (92.9%) and belonged to ST1011. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of an IncX3 plasmid carrying the blaNDM-5 gene in animals in Lebanon, highlighting the severe AMR challenges in the country. Taken together, our current and previous findings suggest that blaNDM-5 might be spreading in different hosts and genetic backgrounds across clinical and non-clinical settings.

Multidrug-resistant pathogens contaminate river water used in irrigation in disenfranchised communities.

OBJECTIVES: The contamination of fresh surface waters poses a significant burden on human health and prosperity, especially in marginalized communities with limited resources and inadequate infrastructure. Here, we performed in-depth genomic analyses of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR-B) isolated from Al-Oueik river water that is used for irrigation of agricultural fields in a disenfranchised area that also hosts a makeshift Syrian refugee camp. METHODS: A composite freshwater sample was filtered. Faecal coliforms were counted and extended spectrum cephalosporins and/or ertapenem resistant bacteria were screened. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS and analysed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the resistome, sequence types, plasmid types, and virulence genes. RESULTS: Approximately 106 CFU/100 mL of faecal coliforms were detected in the water. Four drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were identified, namely Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei, and Pseudomonas otitidis. Notably, the E. coli isolate harboured blaNDM-5 and a YRIN-inserted PBP3, representing an emerging public health challenge. The K. pneumoniae isolate carried blaSHV-187 as well as mutations in the gene encoding the OmpK37 porin. Enterobacter hormaechei and P. otitidis harboured blaACT-16 and blaPOM-1, respectively. CONCLUSION: This report provides comprehensive genomic analyses of MDR-B in irrigation water in Lebanon. Our results further support that irrigation water contaminated with faecal material can be a reservoir of important MDR-B, which can spread to adjacent agricultural fields and other water bodies, posing both public health and food safety issues. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement effective water quality monitoring and management programs to control the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in irrigation water in Lebanon.

The emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales in hospitals: a major challenge for a debilitated healthcare system in Lebanon.

Background: Carbapenem- and extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (CR-E and ESCR-E, respectively) are increasingly isolated worldwide. Information about these bacteria is sporadic in Lebanon and generally relies on conventional diagnostic methods, which is detrimental for a country that is struggling with an unprecedented economic crisis and a collapsing public health system. Here, CR-E isolates from different Lebanese hospitals were characterized. Materials and methods: Non-duplicate clinical ESCR-E or CR-E isolates (N = 188) were collected from three hospitals from June 2019 to December 2020. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF, and their antibiotic susceptibility by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. CR-E isolates (n = 33/188) were further analyzed using Illumina-based WGS to identify resistome, MLST, and plasmid types. Additionally, the genetic relatedness of the CR-E isolates was evaluated using an Infrared Biotyper system and compared to WGS. Results: Using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay, only 90 isolates out of the 188 isolates that were collected based on their initial routine susceptibility profile by the three participating hospitals could be confirmed as ESCR-E or CR-E isolates and were included in this study. This collection comprised E. coli (n = 70; 77.8%), K. pneumoniae (n = 13; 14.4%), Enterobacter spp. (n = 6; 6.7%), and Proteus mirabilis (n = 1; 1.1%). While 57 were only ESBL producers the remaining 33 isolates (i.e., 26 E. coli, five K. pneumoniae, one E. cloacae, and one Enterobacter hormaechei) were resistant to at least one carbapenem, of which 20 were also ESBL-producers. Among the 33 CR-E, five different carbapenemase determinants were identified: blaNDM-5 (14/33), blaOXA-244 (10/33), blaOXA-48 (5/33), blaNDM-1 (3/33), and blaOXA-181 (1/33) genes. Notably, 20 CR-E isolates were also ESBL-producers. The analysis of the genetic relatedness revealed a substantial genetic diversity among CR-E isolates, suggesting evolution and transmission from various sources. Conclusion: This study highlighted the emergence and broad dissemination of blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-244 genes in Lebanese clinical settings. The weak AMR awareness in the Lebanese community and the ongoing economic and healthcare challenges have spurred self-medication practices. Our findings highlight an urgent need for transformative approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance in both community and hospital settings.

Prevalence and Molecular Mechanisms of Carbapenem Resistance among Gram-Negative Bacilli in Three Hospitals of Northern Lebanon.

Carbapenem resistance (CR) is an emerging health issue. Epidemiological surveys on carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) in Lebanon remain scarce. In this study, we determined the prevalence of CR-GNB isolated between 2015 to 2019 in three hospitals in northern Lebanon: 311 CR-Enterobacterales (out of 11210; 2.8%), 155 CR-Pseudomonas (out of 1034; 15%) and 106 CR- Acinetobacter (out of 184; 57.6%) were identified. CR mechanisms were determined for 146 randomly chosen isolates: the Carba NP test revealed an enzymatic resistance to carbapenems in 109 isolates (out of 146, 74.7%). Produced carbapenemases were evaluated by the NG-Test Carba5, NG-Test OXA-23 immunochromatographic assays and PCR. Carbapenemase-producing (CP) Enterobacterales expressed blaOXA-48-like, blaNDM-like and blaVIM-like genes and CP-Pseudomonas expressed blaIMP-like and blaVIM-like genes, whereas CP-Acinetobacter expressed blaOXA-23-like genes. The NG-Test Carba5 results were confirmed by PCR sequencing and revealed several variants, such as NDM-19, VIM-62 and OXA-162, never described so far in Lebanon. Isolates with discordant results were sequenced by WGS and highlighted novel variants of the natural oxacillinases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: blaOXA-50-like genes. Their role in carbapenem resistance should be further studied. Overall, our findings highlight an alarming situation and encourage health care centers to establish performant registration systems that could help in limiting resistance spread.