Detection of a genetically related carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli ST167 in clinical and environmental isolates: Evidence for clonal spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in humans and the environment in Iowa, United States
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Environmental NDM-5 producing E. coli was detected with extensive drug-resistance. • BO1 shared only 1 – 12 SNPs with clinical strains, implying clonal spread. • Clonal spread between human and environment highlights need for strict CPE control. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are listed by the World Health Organization as one of the critical priority pathogens needing urgent attention to address global resistance to antimicrobials. Thus, the transmission and epidemiology of CPEs need to be studied in One-Health perspectives. One environmental CPE, referred to as BO1, was isolated from a creek in Northwest Iowa, using Colilert system. Presence of carbapenemase was examined by mCIM test, and then phenotypic resistance was determined using Sensititre™ Complete Automated AST System. Whole-genome sequencing was performed and analyzed to compare with clinical CPEs. BO1, carrying bla NDM-5 was isolated from a creek in Northwest Iowa. BO1 exhibited resistance to 15 antimicrobials, defined as an extensively drug-resistant organism. BO1 was identified as ST167, which is well known as an emerging high-risk clone. IncFIA and IncQ1 types of conjugatable plasmids were identified in the BO1 genome. The genetic environment of bla NDM-5 was highly conserved as bla NDM - ble MBL - trpF - dsbD in all strains studied. Interestingly, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed BO1 shared only 1, 4 and 12 SNPs with three different clinical strains from patients at Iowa healthcare facilities. The occurrence of BO1 was temporally and spatially close to that of one clinical strain, IA0018, implying the clonal spread of CPEs among humans and the environment, although the source and directionality of this spread remains unknown. This report illustrates the need for the strict control of CPEs in healthcare facilities and continuous surveillance in clinical and environmental settings to trace and prevent CPE transmission.
Authors: Hanseob Shin, David M. Cwiertny, Megan J. Nelson, Ryan T. Jepson, Michael A. Pentella, Darrin A. Thompson
Institution: University of Iowa
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Medicine
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,890
OpenAlex ID: W4408159969