The global dissemination of hospital clones of Enterococcus faecium.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The hospital-adapted A1 group of Enterococcus faecium remains an organism of significant concern in the context of drug-resistant hospital-associated infections. How this pathogen evolves and disseminates remains poorly understood.

Methods

A large, globally representative collection of short-read genomic data from the hospital-associated A1 group of Enterococcus faecium was assembled (n = 973). We analysed, using a novel analysis approach, global diversity in terms of both the dynamics of the accessory genome and homologous recombination among conserved genes.

Results

Two main modes of genomic evolution continue to shape E. faecium: the acquisition and loss of genes, including antimicrobial resistance genes, through mobile genetic elements including plasmid

SUBMITTER: van Hal SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8008517 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature