KPC-2-producing Enterobacterales from ready-to-eat food to hospitalized patients

Infect Genet Evol. 2024 Apr 19:105596. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105596. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTFoodstuffs are a well-documented source of multidrug-resistant bacteria, and hospitalized patients are usually susceptible to hospital infections owing to their immune status. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in ready-to-eat foods consumed by hospitalized patients. For this purpose, 51 vegetable and meat samples were collected over 2 months and analyzed. Enterobacterales isolates were identified and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, followed by beta-lactamase gene screening, pH tolerance assays, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Isolates harboring genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, cephalosporinases, or carbapenemases were detected, and all isolates tolerated pH levels similar to those in the human gastrointestinal tract. The blaKPC-2 carriers were characterized by WGS and lineages closely related to those causing human infections were identified. These results showed that dietary intake is an alternative route for the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which must be considered when designing effective strategies for infection control.PMID:38643959 | DOI:10.1016/j.meegid.2024.105596

Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - April 21, 2024 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Bianca Lara Ven âncio de Godoy Marlon do Valle Barroso Yasmin Fontoura de Azeredo Louren ção Let ícia Kellen de Andrade Vit ória Gabriela Tosta Rodrigues Caroline Atu í Ana Caroline do Valle Ta ís Paulino Ferreira Mara Corr êa Lelles Nogueira Tiag Source Type: research