scholarly journals Evolutionary history of the global emergence of the Escherichia coli epidemic clone ST131

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Stoesser ◽  
Anna Sheppard ◽  
Louise Pankhurst ◽  
Nicola de Maio ◽  
Catrin E Moore ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) has emerged globally as the most predominant lineage within this clinically important species, and its association with fluoroquinolone and extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance impacts significantly on treatment. The evolutionary histories of this lineage, and of important antimicrobial resistance elements within it, remain unclearly defined. Results This study of the largest worldwide collection (n = 215) of sequenced ST131 E. coli isolates to date demonstrates that clonal expansion of two previously recognized antimicrobial-resistant clades, C1/H30R and C2/H30Rx, started around 25 years ago, consistent with the widespread introduction of fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum cephalosporins in clinical medicine. These two clades appear to have emerged in the United States, with the expansion of the C2/H30Rx clade driven by the acquisition of a blaCTX-M-15-containing IncFII-like plasmid that has subsequently undergone extensive rearrangement. Several other evolutionary processes influencing the trajectory of this drug-resistant lineage are described, including sporadic acquisitions of CTX-M resistance plasmids, and chromosomal integration of blaCTX-M within sub-clusters followed by vertical evolution. These processes are also occurring for another family of CTX-M gene variants more recently observed amongst ST131, the blaCTX-M-14/14-like group. Conclusions The complexity of the evolutionary history of ST131 has important implications for antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiological analysis, and control of emerging clinical lineages of E. coli. These data also highlight the global imperative to reduce specific antibiotic selection pressures, and demonstrate the important and varied roles played by plasmids and other mobile genetic elements in the perpetuation of antimicrobial resistance within lineages.

mBio ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Stoesser ◽  
Anna E. Sheppard ◽  
Louise Pankhurst ◽  
Nicola De Maio ◽  
Catrin E. Moore ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) has emerged globally as the most predominant extraintestinal pathogenic lineage within this clinically important species, and its association with fluoroquinolone and extended-spectrum cephalosporin resistance impacts significantly on treatment. The evolutionary histories of this lineage, and of important antimicrobial resistance elements within it, remain unclearly defined. This study of the largest worldwide collection ( n = 215) of sequenced ST131 E. coli isolates to date demonstrates that the clonal expansion of two previously recognized antimicrobial-resistant clades, C1/ H 30R and C2/ H 30Rx, started around 25 years ago, consistent with the widespread introduction of fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum cephalosporins in clinical medicine. These two clades appear to have emerged in the United States, with the expansion of the C2/ H 30Rx clade driven by the acquisition of a bla CTX-M-15 -containing IncFII-like plasmid that has subsequently undergone extensive rearrangement. Several other evolutionary processes influencing the trajectory of this drug-resistant lineage are described, including sporadic acquisitions of CTX-M resistance plasmids and chromosomal integration of bla CTX-M within subclusters followed by vertical evolution. These processes are also occurring for another family of CTX-M gene variants more recently observed among ST131, the bla CTX-M-14/14-like group. The complexity of the evolutionary history of ST131 has important implications for antimicrobial resistance surveillance, epidemiological analysis, and control of emerging clinical lineages of E. coli . These data also highlight the global imperative to reduce specific antibiotic selection pressures and demonstrate the important and varied roles played by plasmids and other mobile genetic elements in the perpetuation of antimicrobial resistance within lineages. IMPORTANCE Escherichia coli , perennially a major bacterial pathogen, is becoming increasingly difficult to manage due to emerging resistance to all preferred antimicrobials. Resistance is concentrated within specific E. coli lineages, such as sequence type 131 (ST131). Clarification of the genetic basis for clonally associated resistance is key to devising intervention strategies. We used high-resolution genomic analysis of a large global collection of ST131 isolates to define the evolutionary history of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in ST131. We documented diverse contributory genetic processes, including stable chromosomal integrations of resistance genes, persistence and evolution of mobile resistance elements within sublineages, and sporadic acquisition of different resistance elements. Both global distribution and regional segregation were evident. The diversity of resistance element acquisition and propagation within ST131 indicates a need for control and surveillance strategies that target both bacterial strains and mobile genetic elements.


mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lance B. Price ◽  
James R. Johnson ◽  
Maliha Aziz ◽  
Connie Clabots ◽  
Brian Johnston ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131) clone is notorious for extraintestinal infections, fluoroquinolone resistance, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, attributable to a CTX-M-15-encoding mobile element. Here, we applied pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the ST131 clone. PFGE-based cluster analyses suggested that both fluoroquinolone resistance and ESBL production had been acquired by multiple ST131 sublineages through independent genetic events. In contrast, the more robust whole-genome-sequence-based phylogenomic analysis revealed that fluoroquinolone resistance was confined almost entirely to a single, rapidly expanding ST131 subclone, designated H30-R. Strikingly, 91% of the CTX-M-15-producing isolates also belonged to a single, well-defined clade nested within H30-R, which was named H30-Rx due to its more extensive resistance. Despite its tight clonal relationship with H30Rx, the CTX-M-15 mobile element was inserted variably in plasmid and chromosomal locations within the H30-Rx genome. Screening of a large collection of recent clinical E. coli isolates both confirmed the global clonal expansion of H30-Rx and revealed its disproportionate association with sepsis (relative risk, 7.5; P < 0.001). Together, these results suggest that the high prevalence of CTX-M-15 production among ST131 isolates is due primarily to the expansion of a single, highly virulent subclone, H30-Rx. IMPORTANCE We applied an advanced genomic approach to study the recent evolutionary history of one of the most important Escherichia coli strains in circulation today. This strain, called sequence type 131 (ST131), causes multidrug-resistant bladder, kidney, and bloodstream infections around the world. The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance in E. coli is making these infections more difficult to treat and is leading to increased mortality. Past studies suggested that many different ST131 strains gained resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins independently. In contrast, our research indicates that most extended-spectrum-cephalosporin-resistant ST131 strains belong to a single highly pathogenic subclone, called H30-Rx. The clonal nature of H30-Rx may provide opportunities for vaccine or transmission prevention-based control strategies, which could gain importance as H30-Rx and other extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli subclones become resistant to our best antibiotics.


2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 2364-2370 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Johnson ◽  
Carl Urban ◽  
Scott J. Weissman ◽  
James H. Jorgensen ◽  
James S. Lewis ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTEscherichia colisequence type ST131 (from phylogenetic group B2), often carrying the extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) geneblaCTX-M-15, is an emerging globally disseminated pathogen that has received comparatively little attention in the United States. Accordingly, a convenience sample of 351 ESBL-producingE. coliisolates from 15 U.S. centers (collected in 2000 to 2009) underwent PCR-based phylotyping and detection of ST131 andblaCTX-M-15. A total of 200 isolates, comprising 4 groups of 50 isolates each that were (i)blaCTX-M-15negative non-ST131, (ii)blaCTX-M-15positive non-ST131, (iii)blaCTX-M-15negative ST131, or (iv)blaCTX-M-15positive ST131, also underwent virulence genotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Overall, 201 (57%) isolates exhibitedblaCTX-M-15, whereas 165 (47%) were ST131. ST131 accounted for 56% ofblaCTX-M-15-positive- versus 35% ofblaCTX-M-15-negative isolates (P< 0.001). Whereas ST131 accounted for 94% of the 175 total group B2 isolates, non-ST131 isolates were phylogenetically distributed byblaCTX-M-15status, with groups A (blaCTX-M-15-positive isolates) and D (blaCTX-M-15-negative isolates) predominating. BothblaCTX-M-15and ST131 occurred at all participating centers, were recovered from children and adults, increased significantly in prevalence post-2003, and were associated with molecularly inferred virulence. Compared with non-ST131 isolates, ST131 isolates had higher virulence scores, distinctive virulence profiles, and more-homogeneous PFGE profiles.blaCTX-M-15was associated with extensive antimicrobial resistance and ST131 with fluoroquinolone resistance. Thus,E. coliST131 andblaCTX-M-15are emergent, widely distributed, and predominant among ESBL-positiveE. colistrains in the United States, among children and adults alike. Enhanced virulence and antimicrobial resistance have likely promoted the epidemiological success of these emerging public health threats.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emelia H. Adator ◽  
Claudia Narvaez-Bravo ◽  
Rahat Zaheer ◽  
Shaun R. Cook ◽  
Lisa Tymensen ◽  
...  

This study aimed to compare antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant and generic Escherichia coli from a One Health continuum of the beef production system in Alberta, Canada. A total of 705 extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (ESCr) were obtained from: cattle feces (CFeces, n = 382), catch basins (CBasins, n = 137), surrounding streams (SStreams, n = 59), beef processing plants (BProcessing, n = 4), municipal sewage (MSewage; n = 98) and human clinical specimens (CHumans, n = 25). Generic isolates (663) included: CFeces (n = 142), CBasins (n = 185), SStreams (n = 81), BProcessing (n = 159) and MSewage (n = 96). All isolates were screened for antimicrobial susceptibility to 9 antimicrobials and two clavulanic acid combinations. In ESCr, oxytetracycline (87.7%), ampicillin (84.4%) and streptomycin (73.8%) resistance phenotypes were the most common, with source influencing AMR prevalence (p < 0.001). In generic E. coli, oxytetracycline (51.1%), streptomycin (22.6%), ampicillin (22.5%) and sulfisoxazole (14.3%) resistance were most common. Overall, 88.8% of ESCr, and 26.7% of generic isolates exhibited multi-drug resistance (MDR). MDR in ESCr was high from all sources: CFeces (97.1%), MSewage (96.9%), CHumans (96%), BProcessing (100%), CBasins (70.5%) and SStreams (61.4%). MDR in generic E. coli was lower with CFeces (45.1%), CBasins (34.6%), SStreams (23.5%), MSewage (13.6%) and BProcessing (10.7%). ESBL phenotypes were confirmed in 24.7% (n = 174) ESCr and 0.6% of generic E. coli. Prevalence of bla genes in ESCr were blaCTXM (30.1%), blaCTXM-1 (21.6%), blaTEM (20%), blaCTXM-9 (7.9%), blaOXA (3.0%), blaCTXM-2 (6.4%), blaSHV (1.4%) and AmpC β-lactamase blaCMY (81.3%). The lower AMR in ESCr from SStreams and BProcessing and higher AMR in CHumans and CFeces likely reflects antimicrobial use in these environments. Although MDR levels were higher in ESCr as compared to generic E. coli, AMR to the same antimicrobials ranked high in both ESCr and generic E. coli sub-populations. This suggests that both sub-populations reflect similar AMR trends and are equally useful for AMR surveillance. Considering that MDR ESCr MSewage isolates were obtained without enrichment, while those from CFeces were obtained with enrichment, MSewage may serve as a hot spot for MDR emergence and dissemination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Regina Ama Banu ◽  
Jorge Matheu Alvarez ◽  
Anthony J. Reid ◽  
Wendemagegn Enbiale ◽  
Appiah-Korang Labi ◽  
...  

Infections by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) are on the increase in Ghana, but the level of environmental contamination with this organism, which may contribute to growing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), is unknown. Using the WHO OneHealth Tricycle Protocol, we investigated the contamination of E. coli (Ec) and ESBL-Ec in two rivers in Ghana (Odaw in Accra and Okurudu in Kasoa) that receive effluents from human and animal wastewater hotspots over a 12-month period. Concentrations of Ec, ESBL-Ec and percent ESBL-Ec/Ec were determined per 100 mL sample. Of 96 samples, 94 (98%) were positive for ESBL-Ec. concentrations per 100 mL (MCs100) of ESBL-Ec and %ESBL-Ec from both rivers were 4.2 × 104 (IQR, 3.1 × 103–2.3 × 105) and 2.79 (IQR, 0.96–6.03), respectively. MCs100 were significantly lower in upstream waters: 1.8 × 104 (IQR, 9.0 × 103–3.9 × 104) as compared to downstream waters: 1.9 × 106 (IQR, 3.7 × 105–5.4 × 106). Both human and animal wastewater effluents contributed to the increased contamination downstream. This study revealed high levels of ESBL-Ec in rivers flowing through two cities in Ghana. There is a need to manage the sources of contamination as they may contribute to the acquisition and spread of ESBL-Ec in humans and animals, thereby contributing to AMR.


2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 3043-3046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen P. Hawser ◽  
Samuel K. Bouchillon ◽  
Daryl J. Hoban ◽  
Robert E. Badal ◽  
Rafael Cantón ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT From 2002 to 2008, there was a significant increase in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-positive Escherichia coli isolates in European intra-abdominal infections, from 4.3% in 2002 to 11.8% in 2008 (P < 0.001), but not for ESBL-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates (16.4% to 17.9% [P > 0.05]). Hospital-associated isolates were more common than community-associated isolates, at 14.0% versus 6.5%, respectively, for E. coli (P < 0.001) and 20.9% versus 5.3%, respectively, for K. pneumoniae (P < 0.01). Carbapenems were consistently the most active drugs tested.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 1018-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
MEILI XI ◽  
QIAN WU ◽  
XIN WANG ◽  
BAOWEI YANG ◽  
XIAODONG XIA ◽  
...  

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Escherichia coli strains have been reported worldwide; however, the incidence and characterization of foodborne ESBL-producing E. coli strains have been rarely reported in the People's Republic of China. Among a collection of 659 E. coli isolates recovered from retail foods in Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China, 223 cefoxitin-resistant and/or cefoperazone-resistant isolates were screened for ESBL production with the double disk diffusion test. The ESBL-producing isolates were characterized for antimicrobial resistance and the presence of blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes. Isolates with blaCTX-M were further classified by PCR as having blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2, blaCTX-M-8, blaCTX-M-9, or blaCTX-M-25. One hundred forty-seven isolates were identified as ESBL positive. PCR detection revealed that 146 isolates (99.3%) contained the blaCTX-M gene. Among these isolates, 42 (28.8%) were positive for the enzyme CTX-M-1, 5 (3.4%) for CTX-M-2, and 99 (67.8%) for CTX-M-9. No CTX-M-8 and CTX-M-25 were found in this study. One hundred fifteen isolates (78.2%) were positive for the blaTEM gene, but blaSHV was not detected. Among the 147 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, 75 (51.0%), 35 (23.8%), and 4 (2.7%) isolates were positive for blaTEM and blaCTX-M-9, blaTEM and blaCTX-M-1, and blaTEM and blaCTX-M-2, respectively. All of the 147 ESBL-producing isolates were resistant to three or more non–β-lactam antibiotics. This study provides evidence that foodborne E. coli can harbor ESBL-encoding genes. Thus, food could be a vehicle for the dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli strains, a situation that requires surveillance and appropriate management strategies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 360-363
Author(s):  
Shikha Tamta ◽  
Obli Rajendran Vinodh Kumar ◽  
Shiv Varan Singh ◽  
Bommenahalli Siddaramiah Pruthvishree ◽  
Ravichandran Karthikeyan ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are gradually increasing worldwide and carry a serious public threat. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from fecal samples of piglets and pig farm workers. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples from <3-month-old piglets (n=156) and farm workers (n=21) were processed for the isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli in MacConkey agar added with 1 μg/mL of cefotaxime. E. coli (piglets=124; farm workers=21) were tested for ESBL production by combined disk method and ESBL E-strip test. Each of the ESBL-positive isolate was subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing. The ESBL-producing E. coli were further processed for genotypic confirmation to CTX-M gene. Results: A total of 55 (44.4%, 55/124) and nine (42.9%, 9/21) ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from piglets and farm workers, respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the ESBL-positive E. coli isolates from piglets and farm workers showed 100% resistance to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefotaxime/clavulanic acid, ceftazidime/clavulanic acid, and cefpodoxime. A proportion of 100% (55/55) and 88.9% (8/9) ESBL-positive E. coli were multidrug resistance (MDR) in piglets and farm workers, respectively. On genotypic screening of the ESBL E. coli isolated from piglets (n=55), 15 were positive for the blaCTX-M gene and of the nine ESBL E. coli from farm workers, none were positive for the blaCTX-M gene. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in isolation of ESBL-producing E. coli between piglets and farm workers, the ESBL-positive E. coli from piglets showed relatively higher MDR than farm workers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
KANJANA CHANGKAEW ◽  
APIRADEE INTARAPUK ◽  
FUANGFA UTRARACHKIJ ◽  
CHIE NAKAJIMA ◽  
ORASA SUTHIENKUL ◽  
...  

Administration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals increases the risk of higher antimicrobial resistance in the normal intestinal flora of these animals. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing strains and to characterize class 1 integrons in Escherichia coli in healthy swine in Thailand. All 122 of the tested isolates had drug-resistant phenotypes. High resistance was found to ampicillin (98.4% of isolates), chloramphenicol (95.9%), gentamicin (78.7%), streptomycin (77.9%), tetracycline (74.6%), and cefotaxime (72.1%). Fifty-four (44.3%) of the E. coli isolates were confirmed as ESBL-producing strains. Among them, blaCTX-M (45 isolates) and blaTEM (41 isolates) were detected. Of the blaCTX-M-positive E. coli isolates, 37 carried the blaCTX-M-1 cluster, 12 carried the blaCTX-M-9 cluster, and 5 carried both clusters. Sequence analysis revealed blaTEM-1, blaTEM-135, and blaTEM-175 in 38, 2, and 1 isolate, respectively. Eighty-seven (71%) of the 122isolates carried class 1 integrons, and eight distinct drug-resistance gene cassettes with seven different integron profiles were identified in 43 of these isolates. Gene cassettes were associated with resistance to aminoglycosides (aadA1, aadA2, aadA22, or aadA23), trimethoprim (dfrA5, dfrA12, or dfrA17), and lincosamide (linF). Genes encoding β-lactamases were not found in class 1 integrons. This study is the first to report ESBL-producing E. coli with a class 1 integron carrying the linF gene cassette in swine in Thailand. Our findings confirm that swine can be a reservoir of ESBL-producing E. coli harboring class 1 integrons, which may become a potential health risk if these integrons are transmitted to humans. Intensive analyses of animal, human, and environmental isolates are needed to control the spread of ESBL-producing E. coli strains.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1626
Author(s):  
Mahfouz Nasser ◽  
Snehal Palwe ◽  
Ram Naresh Bhargava ◽  
Marc G. J. Feuilloley ◽  
Arun S. Kharat

The production of diverse and extended spectrum β-lactamases among Escherichia coli and ESKAPE pathogens is a growing threat to clinicians and public health. We aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of evolving trends of antimicrobial resistance and β-lactamases among E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acine to bacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) in the Arabian region. A systematic review was conducted in Medline PubMed on papers published between January 2000 and February 2020 on countries in the Arab region showing different antibiotic resistance among E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens. A total of n = 119,144 clinical isolates were evaluated for antimicrobial resistance in 19 Arab countries. Among these clinical isolates, 74,039 belonged to E. coli and ESKAPE pathogen. Distribution of antibiotic resistance among E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens indicated that E. coli (n = 32,038) was the predominant pathogen followed by K. pneumoniae (n = 17,128), P. aeruginosa (n = 11,074), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA, n = 4370), A. baumannii (n = 3485) and Enterobacter spp. (n = 1574). There were no reports demonstrating Enterococcus faecium producing β-lactamase. Analyses revealed 19 out of 22 countries reported occurrence of ESBL (Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase) producing E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens. The present study showed significantly increased resistance rates to various antimicrobial agents over the last 20 years; for instance, cephalosporin resistance increased from 37 to 89.5%, fluoroquinolones from 46.8 to 70.3%, aminoglycosides from 40.2 to 64.4%, mono-bactams from 30.6 to 73.6% and carbapenems from 30.5 to 64.4%. An average of 36.9% of the total isolates were reported to have ESBL phenotype during 2000 to 2020. Molecular analyses showed that among ESBLs and Class A and Class D β-lactamases, blaCTX-M and blaOXA have higher prevalence rates of 57% and 52.7%, respectively. Among Class B β-lactamases, few incidences of blaVIM 27.7% and blaNDM 26.3% were encountered in the Arab region. Conclusion: This review highlights a significant increase in resistance to various classes of antibiotics, including cephalosporins, β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems, aminoglycosides and quinolones among E. coli and ESKAPE pathogens in the Arab region.


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