The dissemination of Multi Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) is one of the major public health problems addressed nowadays. High fecal carriage rates of MDR Enterobacteriaceae were reported from Lebanese nursing homes. Studies have shown that the acquisition of resistance genes by bacteria might confer a fitness cost detected as a decrease in the frequency of these bacteria as compared to sensitive isolates. In this study, the competitive growth of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolated from elderly is assessed. Sensitive and ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were identified. Inter-species in-vitro competition assays were conducted in different combinations. ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae presented a fitness cost when competing against sensitive E. coli. On the other hand, resistant E. coli only showed a fitness cost when growing in presence of two sensitive K. pneumoniae isolates. These results suggest that ESBL-production genes in E. coli and K. pneumoniae may confer a fitness cost that leads to the decrease in frequency of these bacteria in interspecies competitions. Culturing bacteria in a medium with more diverse isolates can provide better insights into bacterial competition and resistance dynamics, which can be exploited in the search for alternative therapeutic approaches towards the colonization of resistant bacteria.

Muti-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) are problematic all over the world, especially in Lebanon. High fecal carriage rates of MDR Enterobacteriaceae were reported from Lebanese nursing homes. Some studies show that MDROs have a fitness cost as compared to sensitive isolates. In this study, the competitive growth of MDR Escherichia coli obtained from fecal samples from elderly is assessed. Fecal swabs from ten elderly patients from a Lebanese nursing home were obtained between June and December, 2015. Isolates were identified by API 20E and antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined. Production of ESBL (extended spectrum β lactamase), MBL (metallo β lactamse), AmpC and KPC (Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase) was detected phenotypically by the use of EDTA, PBA, cloxacillin, and DDSTs. In-vitro competition assays were performed using E. coli isolates with different combinations of bacterial resistance. A total of 117 isolates was obtained with 71.8% E. coli, 7.7% of which were ESBL and 5.1% AmpC producers. Sensitive E. coli isolates out-competed all other isolates when in competition, followed sequentially by ESBL, AmpC, and OXA-48 (oxacillin) producers. This study shows an advantage of sensitive E. coli strains obtained from fecal samples to out-compete resistant strains in specific in-vitro conditions. This ability could be exploited in the elimination of MDR organisms from the gut flora, after further investigation.

Introduction: Nowadays, medical treatments efficiency is challenged by multi drug resistant organisms (MDROs). Lebanese nursing homes’ residents revealed high fecal carriage rates of MDR Enterobacteriacea. Previous studies claim that bacteria with resistant genes experience fitness cost. This study assesses the competitive growth of MDR Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methodology: Fecal swabs were collected, during six consecutive months, from ten elderly residing in a Lebanese nursing home. All isolates were subject to API 20E (bioMerieux, Marcy L’ Etoile, France) and antimicrobial susceptibility (Kirby–Bauer method) testing. Phenotypically, ESBL (extended spectrum β-lactamase), MBL (metallo β-lactamase), AmpC and KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase) were detected using EDTA, PBA, cloxacillin, and DDSTs (Biorad, Hercules, USA). Selected ESBL producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae underwent multiplex PCR analysis. Intra and inter-species in-vitro competition assays were conducted in multiple combinations. Results: Among 117 collected isolates, E. coli was predominant (71.8%); 7.7% were ESBL and 5.1% AmpC producers. With E. coli intra-species assays, sensitive isolates out-competed all others, followed by ESBL, AmpC, and OXA-48 (oxacillin) producers. Inter-species assays, demonstrated a decreased fitness of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae in presence of sensitive E. coli. While out-competing ESBL producing E. coli required 2 sensitive K. pneumoniae isolates. Conclusion: This study highlights resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae frequency decrease in presence of sensitive isolates, endorsing the fitness cost hypothesis.  Hence, competing supplementary species reproducing gut flora, would ensure further steps in the fight against MDROs.