Increased Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteria in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During 2020-2021, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean reported clinical emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales that had not been previously characterized locally, increased prevalence of carbapenemases that had previously been detected, and co-production of multiple carbapenemases in some isolates. These increases were likely fueled by changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including empirical antibiotic use for potential COVID-19-related bacterial infections and healthcare limitations resulting from the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases. Strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiologic research, and infection prevention and control programs and antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings can help prevent emergence and transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates From Peru, 2018 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: Currently, in Latin America, including Peru, the treatment of gonorrhea is still empiric and information regarding antimicrobial resistance is scarce in some countries because of the limited resources, which can contribute to the rising rates of reported multidrug-resistant gonococcal strains. In that context, it is mandatory to continuously monitor and report antimicrobial resistance in N. gonorrhoeae to update treatment recommendations. METHODS: This descriptive study analyzed genital and anal samples from symptomatic patients who attended 15 sexually transmitted infections health facilities from 8 different regions in Peru during the years 2018 to 2019 within the framework of Sentinel Surveillance. After establishing the presumptive diagnosis, the isolates were sent to the Laboratory of Sexually Transmitted Bacteria of the National Institute of Health of Peru in Lima where the species were confirmed (N = 165) and susceptibility profiles were determined. RESULTS: Among the 165 isolates, 95.2% corresponded to male patients, between 18 and 22 years of age (40.6%), half reported having a sexual partner and being heterosexual. Clinically, 89.7% manifested the presence of urethral exudate. Microbiology showed 95.2% of the isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin and 9.1% non-susceptible to azithromycin. Reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime was observed in 1.2% and 3.6% of the isolates respectively. All strains tested were susceptible to spectinomycin. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that in Peru, fluoroquinolones should not be recommended or used in N. gonorrhoeae infections due to the high percentage of resistant strains. In addition, nationwide access to gonococcal resistance testing, molecular diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship should be implemented to control the spread of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance.

Molecular characterization of carbapenemases in Peru during 2019. / Caracterización molecular de carbapenemasas en el Perú durante el 2019.

Resistance to carbapenems is a public health problem. This study presents the identification of carbapenemase enzymes in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. present in strains from 30 institutions that provide health services in Peru as part of the quality control process in diagnoses. Phenotypic confirmation and enzymatic identification were performed using the Blue CARBA test and the synergy test with phenylboronic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/sodium mercaptoacetic acid discs. 185 strains with carbapenemases were identified: 78 in Enterobacteriaceae, 61 in P. aeruginosa and 46 in Acinetobacter spp. The types of carbapenemases identified were: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 and the blaVIM/IMP co-production. It is important to strengthen the promotion of the rational use of antimicrobials and epidemiological surveillance in the country's hospitals.

La resistencia a los carbapenémicos es un problema de salud pública. Este estudio presenta la identificación de enzimas carbapenemasas en Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. y Acinetobacter spp. presentes en cepas de 30 instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud del Perú como parte del proceso de control de calidad en diagnósticos. La confirmación fenotípica e identificación enzimática se realizó utilizando la prueba de Blue CARBA y la prueba de sinergia con discos de ácido fenilborónico y ácido etilendiaminotetraacético/ácido mercaptoacético de sodio. Se identificaron 185 cepas con carbapenemasas: 78 en Enterobacteriaceae, 61 en P. aeruginosa y 46 en Acinetobacter spp. Los tipos de carbapenemasas identificadas fueron: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 y la coproducción de blaVIM/IMP. Es importante reforzar la promoción del uso racional de antimicrobianos y la vigilancia epidemiológica en los nosocomios del país.

Caracterización molecular de carbapenemasas en el Perú durante el 2019 / Molecular characterization of carbapenemases in Peru during 2019

RESUMEN La resistencia a los carbapenémicos es un problema de salud pública. Este estudio presenta la identificación de enzimas carbapenemasas en Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. y Acinetobacter spp. presentes en cepas de 30 instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud del Perú como parte del proceso de control de calidad en diagnósticos. La confirmación fenotípica e identificación enzimática se realizó utilizando la prueba de Blue CARBA y la prueba de sinergia con discos de ácido fenilborónico y ácido etilendiaminotetraacético/ácido mercaptoacético de sodio. Se identificaron 185 cepas con carbapenemasas: 78 en Enterobacteriaceae, 61 en P. aeruginosa y 46 en Acinetobacter spp. Los tipos de carbapenemasas identificadas fueron: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 y la coproducción de blaVIM/IMP. Es importante reforzar la promoción del uso racional de antimicrobianos y la vigilancia epidemiológica en los nosocomios del país.

ABSTRACT Resistance to carbapenems is a public health problem. This study presents the identification of carbapenemase enzymes in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. present in strains from 30 institutions that provide health services in Peru as part of the quality control process in diagnoses. Phenotypic confirmation and enzymatic identification were performed using the Blue CARBA test and the synergy test with phenylboronic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/sodium mercaptoacetic acid discs. 185 strains with carbapenemases were identified: 78 in Enterobacteriaceae, 61 in P. aeruginosa and 46 in Acinetobacter spp. The types of carbapenemases identified were: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 and the blaVIM/IMP co-production. It is important to strengthen the promotion of the rational use of antimicrobials and epidemiological surveillance in the country's hospitals.

Caracterización molecular de carbapenemasas en el Perú durante el 2019 / Molecular characterization of carbapenemases in Peru during 2019

RESUMEN La resistencia a los carbapenémicos es un problema de salud pública. Este estudio presenta la identificación de enzimas carbapenemasas en Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. y Acinetobacter spp. presentes en cepas de 30 instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud del Perú como parte del proceso de control de calidad en diagnósticos. La confirmación fenotípica e identificación enzimática se realizó utilizando la prueba de Blue CARBA y la prueba de sinergia con discos de ácido fenilborónico y ácido etilendiaminotetraacético/ácido mercaptoacético de sodio. Se identificaron 185 cepas con carbapenemasas: 78 en Enterobacteriaceae, 61 en P. aeruginosa y 46 en Acinetobacter spp. Los tipos de carbapenemasas identificadas fueron: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 y la coproducción de blaVIM/IMP. Es importante reforzar la promoción del uso racional de antimicrobianos y la vigilancia epidemiológica en los nosocomios del país.

ABSTRACT Resistance to carbapenems is a public health problem. This study presents the identification of carbapenemase enzymes in Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp. present in strains from 30 institutions that provide health services in Peru as part of the quality control process in diagnoses. Phenotypic confirmation and enzymatic identification were performed using the Blue CARBA test and the synergy test with phenylboronic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid/sodium mercaptoacetic acid discs. 185 strains with carbapenemases were identified: 78 in Enterobacteriaceae, 61 in P. aeruginosa and 46 in Acinetobacter spp. The types of carbapenemases identified were: blaKPC, blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 and the blaVIM/IMP co-production. It is important to strengthen the promotion of the rational use of antimicrobials and epidemiological surveillance in the country's hospitals.

Mapa microbiológico hospitalario: Herramienta para monitorear la resistencia a los antimicrobianos / Hospital microbiological map: tool to monitor resistance to antimicrobials

El objetivo del mapa microbiológico es determinar la frecuencia y distribución de los microorganismos a través de su perfil de sensibilidad/resistencia antimicrobiana según el tipo de muestra clínica, localización de la infección, tipo de infección, servicio y caracterizar el fenotipo y genotipo de resistencia en pacientes hospitalizados y ambulatorios