High Genetic Diversity in Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli in Wastewater Systems of Schleswig-Holstein-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

High Genetic Diversity in Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant Escherichia coli in Wastewater Systems of Schleswig-Holstein

Published:2024-01-20 Issue:1 Volume:13 Page:90
ISSN:2076-0817
Container-title:Pathogens
language:en
Short-container-title:Pathogens

Author:

Carlsen Laura¹,Grottker Matthias²,Heim Malika²,Knobling Birte¹,Schlauß Sebastian²,Wellbrock Kai²,Knobloch Johannes K.¹^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology, and Hygiene, Department for Infection Prevention and Control, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

2. Laboratory for Urban Water and Waste Management, Technische Hochschule Lübeck, University of Applied Sciences, Mönkhofer Weg 239, 23562 Lübeck, Germany

Abstract

The spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria from humans or livestock is a critical issue. However, the epidemiology of resistant pathogens across wastewater pathways is poorly understood. Therefore, we performed a detailed comparison of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (3GCREC) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to analyze dissemination pathways. A total of 172 3GCREC isolated from four WWTPs were characterized via whole genome sequencing. Clonal relatedness was determined using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome MLST. Resistance genotypes and plasmid replicons were determined. A total of 68 MLST sequence types were observed with 28 closely related clusters. Resistance genes to eight antibiotic classes were detected. In fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates, resistance was associated with three-or-more point mutations in target genes. Typing revealed high genetic diversity with only a few clonal lineages present in all WWTPs. The distribution paths of individual lines could only be traced in exceptional cases with a lack of enrichment of certain lineages. Varying resistance genes and plasmids, as well as fluoroquinolone resistance-associated point mutations in individual isolates, further corroborated the high diversity of 3GCREC in WWTPs. In total, we observed high diversity of 3GCREC inside the tested WWTPs with proof of resistant strains being released into the environment even after treatment processes.

Funder

Schleswig-Holstein Ministry for Energy Transition, Agriculture, Environment, Nature and Digitalization

Publisher

MDPI AG

Link

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/1/90/pdf

Reference59 articles.

1. Aslam, B., Khurshid, M., Arshad, M.I., Muzammil, S., Rasool, M., Yasmeen, N., Shah, T., Chaudhry, T.H., Rasool, M.H., and Shahid, A. (2021). Antibiotic Resistance: One Health One World Outlook. Front. Cell Infect. Microbiol., 11.

2. Jäger, T., Hembach, N., Elpers, C., Wieland, A., Alexander, J., Hiller, C., Krauter, G., and Schwartz, T. (2018). Reduction of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria During Conventional and Advanced Wastewater Treatment, and the Disseminated Loads Released to the Environment. Front. Microbiol., 9.

3. Eintrag von Antibiotika und Antibiotikaresistenzen in Wassersysteme der Schweiz Ein Überblick über die Lage in Bezug auf Antibiotikaresistenzen und ihre Ausbreitung in die Umwelt;Prävention Gesundheitsförderung,2014

4. The environment as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance. A growing problem for public health?;Konradi;Bundesgesundheitsblatt-Gesundheitsforschung-Gesundheitsschutz,2018

5. Hembach, N., Schmid, F., Alexander, J., Hiller, C., Rogall, E.T., and Schwartz, T. (2017). Occurrence of the mcr-1 Colistin Resistance Gene and other Clinically Relevant Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Microbial Populations at Different Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in Germany. Front. Microbiol., 8.