Clonal dissemination of Acinetobacter radioresistens among Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) inhabiting a barren northern Peruvian island.

Acinetobacter spp. are often isolated from natural sources, but knowledge about their presence in wild animals is fragmented and uncomplete. The present study aimed to characterize a series of Acinetobacter radioresistens isolated from Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Fifteen Humboldt penguins from an inhabited northern Peruvian island were sampled. Microorganisms were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Antibiotic susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents was established, and clonal relationships were determined. A representative isolate was selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS). A. radioresistens were isolated from the feces of 12 (80%) Humboldt penguins, being susceptible to all the antimicrobial agents tested, except eight cefotaxime-intermediate isolates. All A. radioresistens were clonally related. WGS showed that the isolate belonged to ST1972, the presence of two chromosomal encoded carbapenemases (blaOXA-23 and a putative subclass B3 metallo-ß-lactamase), and a series of point mutations in antibiotic-resistance related chromosomal genes, which were considered as polymorphisms. In addition, a few virulence factors, including a capsule-encoding operon, superoxide dismutases, catalases, phospholipases and a siderophore receptor were identified. The present results suggest that A. radioresistens may be a common member of the gut microbiota of Humboldt penguins, but further studies in other geographical areas are needed to establish this finding.

Cytokine Profile Response of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Stimulated by Bartonella bacilliformis.

Carrion's disease is a neglected endemic disease found in remote Andean areas. As an overlooked disease, knowledge of innate immune responses to Bartonella bacilliformis, the etiological agent, is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the cytokine response to B. bacilliformis using in vitro human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulations. PBMCs from naive adults were isolated by gradient centrifugation and cocultured with heat-inactivated (HI) B. bacilliformis at different incubation times (3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 h). Cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were determined in culture supernatants by multiplex fluorescent bead-based quantitative suspension array technology. During the first 36 h, a proinflammatory response was observed, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, interferon-α2, and IL-6, followed by an anti-inflammatory response mainly related to IL-1RA. Moreover, high expression levels of chemokines IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1α, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1ß were detected from 3 h poststimulation and MIP-1α was detected at 24 h. Some growth factors, mainly granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and in minor concentrations vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and eotaxin, were also detected. Innate response to HI B. bacilliformis stimulation consists of a rapid and strong proinflammatory response characterized by a wide range of cytokines and chemokines followed by an anti-inflammatory response and increased specific growth factors.

Traditional marketed meats as a reservoir of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli.

This study aimed to analyze Escherichia coli from marketed meat samples in Peru. Sixty-six E. coli isolates were recovered from 21 meat samples (14 chicken, 7 beef), and antimicrobial resistance levels and the presence of mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, as well as clonal relationships and phylogeny of colistin-resistant isolates, were established. High levels of antimicrobial resistance were detected, with 93.9% of isolates being multi-drug resistant (MDR) and 76.2% of samples possessing colistin-resistant E. coli; of these, 6 samples from 6 chicken samples presenting mcr-1-producer E. coli. Colistin-resistant isolates were classified into 22 clonal groups, while phylogroup A (15 isolates) was the most common. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase- and pAmpC-producing E. coli were found in 18 and 8 samples respectively, with blaCTX-M-55 (28 isolates; 16 samples) and blaCIT (8 isolates; 7 samples) being the most common of each type. Additionally, blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-65, blaSHV-27, blaOXA-5/10-like, blaDHA, blaEBC and narrow-spectrum blaTEM were detected. In addition, 5 blaCTX-M remained unidentified, and no sought ESBL-encoding gene was detected in other 6 ESBL-producer isolates. The tetA, tetE and tetX genes were found in tigecycline-resistant isolates. This study highlights the presence of MDR E. coli in Peruvian food-chain. The high relevance of CTX-M-55, the dissemination through the food-chain of pAmpC, as well as the high frequency of unrelated colistin-resistant isolates is reported.

Brevundimonas spp. infection in immunocompromised children: Two case reports.

Introduction: Brevundimonas spp. are rare and opportunistic pathogens which may cause infections in patients who are immunocompromised or have underlying disease. Case report: Two cases with a microbiological diagnosis of Brevundimonas aurantiaca and Brevundimonas spp. are presented. Both occurred in immunocompromised patients with post-chemotherapy febrile neutropenia for B-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia and hepatoblastoma. Antibiogram findings showed resistance to quinolones, ceftazidime, and intermediate resistance to cefepime, being susceptible to carbapenems and aminoglycosides. The cases responded favorably to the administration of carbapenem. Conclusions: The identification of the species and antimicrobial susceptibility profile favor response to infection, denoting the importance of species identification and the performance of an antibiogram to determine the different susceptibility profiles described in the literature on this emerging pathogen.

High Anti-Interferon-Alpha Autoantibody Levels in Severe/Critical COVID-19 Patients from Peru.

Innate immune responses through the production of type I interferon-α (anti-IFN-α) play an essential role in the defense against viruses. The autoantibodies (auto-Abs) anti-IFN-α are implicated in COVID-19 pathogenesis with higher levels among patients with worse prognoses. The study aimed to assess the levels of anti-IFN-α auto-Abs in Peruvian patients with severe/critical hospitalized COVID-19 compared to asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 outpatients and healthy controls. We analyzed 101 serum samples, including 56 (55.5%) severe/critical, 13 (12.3%) asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 patients, and 32 (32.2%) healthy controls, which we tested using a commercial ELISA anti-IFN-α-auto-Abs kit. We observed seropositivity of 48.2% (26/54) to anti-IFN-α auto-Abs among the severe/critical COVID-19 group, but 0% (0/13) and 3.1% (1/32) among the asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 and healthy groups (P = 0.021), respectively. Furthermore, we observed a significant association between the log10 of anti-IFN-α auto-Abs and the COVID-19 status, with the log10 of anti-IFN-α auto-Abs levels being significantly higher among the severe/critical COVID-19 group compared to the healthy controls (ß = 1.20; confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.72-1.67; P < 0.001). Such association remains significant either when adjusted by age and gender (adjusted ß = 1.16; 95% CI: 0.62-1.70; P < 0.001) and when adjusted by the subjects' age, gender, and obesity (adjusted ß = 1.16; 95% CI: 0.62-1.70; P < 0.001). Despite not measuring neutralizing activity, this study highlights the high frequency of these auto-Abs in the Peruvian population with a worse prognosis of COVID-19.

Clinical-epidemiological characteristics of deaths due to dengue during an outbreak in northern Peru. / Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de las muertes por dengue durante un brote en el norte del Perú.

Motivation for the study. To describe the characteristics of patients who died from severe dengue fever during the 2017 El Niño in Piura. Main findings. Mortality from severe dengue was higher in adult women. First contact with healthcare took place mostly in higher level hospitals. Admission to a specialized unit was late for severe dengue cases. Implications. Control of dengue fever involves several aspects, such as, access to health, prevention, water availability, vector control and education; therefore, it is important to strengthen public health policies in this regard. In order to achieve this goal, local and central government sectors must be involved.

Motivación para realizar el estudio. Describir las características de los pacientes fallecidos por dengue grave durante el fenómeno de El Niño del 2017 en Piura. Principales hallazgos. La mortalidad del dengue grave fue mayoritaria en las mujeres adultas, la primera atención se realizó en hospitales de mayor nivel y la atención para casos graves de dengue en una unidad especializada fue tardía. Implicancias. La mortalidad del dengue grave fue mayoritaria en las mujeres adultas, la primera atención se realizó en hospitales de mayor nivel y la atención para casos graves de dengue en una unidad especializada fue tardía.

Isolation and Identification of Non-O1/Non-O139 Vibrio cholerae in Wild Birds Inhabiting Wetlands in Metropolitan Lima, Peru.

During a survey in wetlands from southern Lima, Peru, two non-O1/non-O139 Vibrio cholerae isolates were obtained from samples collected from an American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) and a Wren-like Rushbird (Phleocryptes melanops). Vibrio cholerae was identified by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA, differentially grown on CHROMagar Vibrio media, and confirmed by ompW amplification. Isolates were confirmed to be non-O1/non-O139 serotypes and to lack the ctxA gene as inferred using PCR. Susceptibility to eight antimicrobial agents was assessed, with one isolate being resistant to azithromycin, doxycycline, tetracycline, and furazolidone. Our results indicate the utility of surveillance for V. cholerae in wetlands in the metropolitan Lima area.

Dengue and COVID-19 Co-Circulation in the Peruvian Amazon: A Population-Based Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the main Amazon cities dramatically, with Iquitos City reporting the highest seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the first COVID-19 wave worldwide. This phenomenon raised many questions about the possibility of a co-circulation of dengue and COVID-19 and its consequences. We carried out a population-based cohort study in Iquitos, Peru. We obtained a venous blood sample from a subset of 326 adults from the Iquitos COVID-19 cohort (August 13-18, 2020) to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-dengue virus (DENV) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We tested each serum sample for anti-DENV IgG (serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4) and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies anti-spike IgG and IgM by ELISA. We estimated an anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 78.0% (95% CI, 73.0-82.0) and an anti-DENV seroprevalence of 88.0% (95% CI, 84.0-91.6), signifying a high seroprevalence of both diseases during the first wave of COVID-19 transmission in the city. The San Juan District had a lower anti-DENV antibody seroprevalence than the Belen District (prevalence ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.82-0.98). However, we did not observe these differences in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence. Iquitos City presented one of the highest seroprevalence rates of anti-DENV and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies worldwide, but with no correlation between their antibody levels.

First report of CrpP prevalence in a South American country.

The presence of crpP was established in 201 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from 9 Peruvian hospitals. The 76.6% (154/201) of the isolates presented the crpP gene. Overall, 123/201 (61.2%) isolates were non-susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The prevalence of crpP-possessing P. aeruginosa in Peru is higher than in other geographical areas.

Colonizing and Virulence Factors in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from Peru.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) ranks among the most relevant diarrheagenic pathogens. Efforts to design vaccines to fight ETEC have been focused on colonizing factors (CFs) and atypical virulence factors (AVF). An effective vaccine must account for differences in the regional prevalence of these CFs and AVFs to be truly effective in a given area. In the present study, the presence of 16 CFs and 9 AVFs, as well as the heat-stable (ST) variants (STh or STp), was established by polymerase chain reaction in 205 Peruvian ETEC isolates (120 from diarrhea cases and 85 from healthy controls). Ninety-nine (48.3%) isolates were heat-labile, 63 (30.7%) ST, and 43 (21.0%) presented both toxins. Of ST isolates, 59 (28.8%) possessed STh, 30 (14.6%) STp, five (2.4%) both STh and STp, and 12 (5.8%) were not amplified for any variant tested. The presence of CFs was associated with diarrhea (P < 0.0001). The presence of eatA as well as concomitant presence of CSI, CS3, and CS21 and of C5 and C6 was statistically related to diarrhea cases. The present results suggests that, if effective, a vaccine considering CS6, CS20, and CS21, together with EtpA, would provide protection against 64.4% of the isolates analyzed, whereas the addition of CS12 and EAST1 would lead to 83.9% coverage. Large studies are needed to establish both the ideal candidates to be considered to develop a vaccine effective in the area, and continuous surveillance is needed to detect displacement of circulating isolates that may compromise future vaccines.

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de las muertes por dengue durante un brote en el norte del Perú / Clinical-epidemiological characteristics of dengue deaths during an outbreak in northern Peru

Con el objetivo de describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes fallecidos por dengue durante el 2017 en Piura, se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de revisión de 24 historias clínicas. El 67% de los casos fueron mujeres y tres (12,5%) estaban embarazadas. La diabetes (12,5%) y la hipertensión (16,7%) fueron las comorbilidades más frecuentes. Sólo en el 12,5% se reportó dengue previo. El tiempo transcurrido desde asistencia sanitaria hasta la muerte fue de 4,10 (DE: 5,34) días. Se hicieron transfusiones de glóbulos rojos en el 45,8% de los casos, plasma en el 25%, plaquetas en el 16,8% y crioprecipitado en el 16,8%. También fueron frecuentes la terapia con cristaloides (91,7%) y el tratamiento con fármacos vasoactivos (70,8%). En conclusión, la mortalidad del dengue grave fue mayoritaria en las mujeres adultas y el tiempo de atención desde el primer establecimiento de salud hasta una unidad especializada fue prolongada.

Objective: To describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of patients who died from dengue during 2017. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the information related to cases of dengue deaths in the department of Piura. Results: We reviewed 24 medical records. Sixty-seven percent were women and 3 (12.5%) were pregnant. Diabetes (12.5%) and hypertension (16.7%) were the most frequent comorbidities. Previous dengue fever was reported in only 12.5%. The time from health care and death was 4.10 ± 5.34 days. Red blood cell transfusions were performed in 45.8%, plasma in 25%, platelets in 16.8% and cryoprecipitate in 16.8% of cases. Crystalloid therapy (91.7%) and treatment with vasoactive drugs (70.8%) were also frequent. In conclusion, mortality from severe dengue fever was predominantly in adult women, and the time of care from the first health facility to a specialized unit was prolonged.

High rates of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a Peruvian hospital 2013-2019.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii has become a major concern of hospital care. The objective of the study was to evaluate the evolution of antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii in a Peruvian hospital from 2013 to 2019. A total of 993 A. baumannii clinical isolates were recovered. Antimicrobial resistance levels were extremely high, except for colistin. Among the remaining antibacterial agents, ampicillin plus sulbactam (AMS) was the most active (71.4% of resistance), with resistance levels to the remaining agents ranging from 75.9% to amikacin to 99.2% to ertapenem. The presence of significant differences was observed in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) A. baumannii according to samples origin. No association was observed between MDR or XDR isolates and seasonality. An impressive rate of XDR A. baumannii isolates was found, including a growing number of only-colistin-susceptible isolates highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic alternatives.

Class 1 and 2 Integrons in Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Diarrhea and Bacteremia in Children Less Than 2 Years of Age from Peru.

Class 1 and Class 2 integrons are mobilizable elements able to carry a variety of antibiotic resistance determinants. In the present study, Class 1 and 2 integrons present in 355 pathogenic Escherichia coli (285 diarrheagenic, of these 129 were enteropathogenic, 90 enteroaggregative, 66 enterotoxigenic, and 70 bacteremic) isolated from healthy and ill children under age 5 from periurban areas of Lima, Peru, were characterized. The presence of integrase 1 and 2 was established by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and variable regions were grouped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and subsequent sequencing. Antimicrobial resistance was established by disk diffusion. Ninety-seven isolates (27.3%) presented integrase 1, and 16 (4.5%) presented integrase 2 (P < 0.0001); in addition, seven (2.0%) isolates, six diarrheagenic and one bacteremic, presented both integrase genes. The presence of integrase 1 was more frequent among bacteremic isolates (P = 0.0004). Variable regions were amplified in 76/120 (63.3%) isolates with up to 14 gene arrangements. The most prevalent gene cassettes were those encoding dihydrofolate reductases as well as aminoglycoside modifying enzymes. Of note, Class 1 integrons tended to be associated with the presence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs). A variety of Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected in diarrheagenic and bacteremic E. coli, demonstrating the heterogeneity of variable regions circulating in the area. The association of integrons with ESBLs is worrisome and has an impact on the development of multidrug resistance.

KPC-2-NDM-1-producing Serratia marcescens: first description in Peru.

Two clonal extensively-resistant S. marcescens were isolated in Peru. The presence and transferability of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases and IMP, KPC, NDM, OXA-48 and VIM were determined. The concomitant presence of KPC-2 and NDM-1 was confirmed in both isolates, with KPC-2 being able to be transferred.

Antibiotic susceptibility among non-clinical Escherichia coli as a marker of antibiotic pressure in Peru (2009-2019): one health approach.

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance is an increasing health problem worldwide with serious implications in global health. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobials has resulted in the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms in humans, animals and the environment. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance provides important information contributing to understanding dissemination within these environments. These data are often unavailable in low- and middle-income countries, such as Peru. This review aimed to determine the levels of antimicrobial resistance in non-clinical Escherichia coli beyond the clinical setting in Peru. Methods: We searched 2009-2019 literature in PUBMED, Google Scholar and local repositories. Results: Thirty manuscripts including human, food, environmental, livestock, pets and/or wild animals' samples were found. The analysis showed high resistance levels to a variety of antimicrobial agents, with >90% of resistance for streptomycin and non-extended-spectrum cephalosporin in livestock and food. High levels of rifamycin resistance were also found in non-clinical samples from humans. In pets, resistance levels of 70->90% were detected for quinolones tetracycline and non-extended spectrum cephalosporins. The results suggest higher levels of antimicrobial resistance in captive than in free-ranging wild-animals. Finally, among environmental samples, 50-70% of resistance to non-extended-spectrum cephalosporin and streptomycin was found. Conclusions: High levels of resistance, especially related to old antibacterial agents, such as streptomycin, 1st and 2nd generation cephalosporins, tetracyclines or first-generation quinolones were detected. Antimicrobial use and control measures are needed with a One Health approach to identify the main drivers of antimicrobial resistance due to interconnected human, animal and environmental habitats.

Zonulin, a marker of gut permeability, is associated with mortality in a cohort of hospitalised peruvian COVID-19 patients.

Zonulin has previously been related to intestinal permeability in various inflammatory diseases, and more recently to the physiopathology of severe COVID-19 infections. We analysed serum samples from a previous study of a Peruvian cohort of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, for the quantification of zonulin by sandwich ELISA. Comparisons with clinical data, haematological and biochemical parameters and cytokine/chemokine levels were made. We found higher baseline zonulin levels in deceased patients, and zonulin was associated with fatal outcome in multivariable analyses, even after adjustment for age, gender, and obesity. There were also positive correlations between zonulin, creatinine, D-dimer values and prothrombin time, while inverse correlations were found for Sa/FiO2 ratio and CCL5 (RANTES). Further longitudinal studies are recommended to analyse the variation of zonulin levels over time as well as their relationship with long-COVID.

Descripción de una cepa de Klebsiella pneumoniae con gen blaOXA-48 en Lima-Perú / Description of a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain with blaOXA-48 gene in Lima-Peru

Señor editor: La propagación de enterobacterales productoras de carbapenemasas se ha convertido en una importante amenaza para la salud mundial. El gen blaOXA-48 produce una carbapenemasa de clase "D" (según la clasificación de Ambler) que expresa un fenotipo resistente a penicilinas, penicilinas con inhibidores de beta-lactamasas, cefalosporinas de primera generación y sensibilidad reducida a los carbapenemes, sensibilidad reducida o casi nula a las cefalosporinas de amplio espectro.

Dear Editor: The spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae has become a major threat to global health. The blaOXA- gene blaOXA-48 produces a class "D" carbapenemase (according to Ambler's classification) that expresses a phenotype resistant to penicillins, penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, first-generation cephalosporins and reduced sensitivity to carbapenems, reduced or near-zero sensitivity to broad-spectrum cephalosporins.48 produces a class "D" carbapenemase (according to Ambler's classification) that expresses a phenotype resistant to penicillins, penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, first-generation cephalosporins and reduced sensitivity to carbapenems, reduced or near-zero sensitivity to broad-spectrum cephalosporins.

Worrying levels of antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria isolated from cell phones and uniforms of Peruvian intensive care unit workers.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare worker (HCW) uniforms and cell phones are involved in pathogen transmission. This study aimed to characterize pathogenic microorganism isolates from HCW uniforms and cell phones. METHODS: Gram-negative microorganisms were recovered from HCW uniforms and cell phones. Antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases were determined. RESULTS: Escherichia coli was the most prevalent microorganism. Overall, high levels of resistance to cephalosporins, quinolones, co-trimoxazole and colistin were found. ESBL were mainly related to blaCTX-M-15 and blaSHV- genes. Carbapenem-resistant isolates presented as blaKPC or blaNDM. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of antimicrobial resistance, including colistin, were detected. Therefore, strategies are urgently needed to prevent bacterial dissemination.