Long-read sequencing reveals genomic diversity and associated plasmid movement of carbapenemase-producing bacteria in a UK hospital over 6 years.

ABSTRACT: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) affect the most vulnerable people in society and are increasingly difficult to treat in the face of mounting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Routine surveillance represents an effective way of understanding the circulation and burden of bacterial resistance and transmission in hospital settings. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to retrospectively analyse carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria from a single hospital in the UK over 6 years (n=165). We found that the vast majority of isolates were either hospital-onset (HAI) or HCAI. Most carbapenemase-producing organisms were carriage isolates, with 71 % isolated from screening (rectal) swabs. Using WGS, we identified 15 species, the most common being Escherichia coli

SUBMITTER: Roberts LW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10438816 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature