Work

An evaluation of screening methods for the detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in environmental samples from healthcare settings

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIMS: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) infections are increasingly problematic, leading to worse treatment outcomes and higher healthcare expenditure. This study evaluated laboratory workflows for the detection of ESBL-E in healthcare environments. We aimed to optimize workflows for organism yield, detection accuracy and practical feasibility to support future surveillance and transmission studies, which are needed to inform targeted interventions to interrupt the spread of drug-resistant organisms. METHODS AND RESULTS: We sampled sinks, toilets, shower drains, shower heads, and high-touch surfaces, within six healthcare facilities in Liverpool, UK. We then assessed recovery of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-Kp) using two swab types (foam and polyester), two pre-enrichment broths [Buffered Peptone Water (BPW) and Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB)], two incubation times (4 and 18 h) and four selective agars (CHROMagar ESBL, cefotaxime-supplemented MacConkey, Membrane Lactose Glucuronide Agar (MLGA) and Simmons Citrate Agar with Inositol).Pre-enrichment for 18 h significantly increased recovery of third-generation cephalosporin resistant Gram-negatives, compared to 4 h. The choice of selective agar impacted the number of ESBL-Ec and ESBL-Kp detected and the number of samples requiring additional species confirmation. We found CHROMagar ESBL and cefotaxime-supplemented MLGA performed best overall, demonstrating the highest yield and detection accuracy (i.e. colour of colonies matched their confirmed species) of ESBL-Ec and ESBL-Kp. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-enrichment for 18 h in BPW, followed by plating onto cefotaxime-supplemented MLGA, was the most effective screening method in our context, having a high detection efficacy, whilst maintaining a scalable and accessible cost.

Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology

DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxaf295