Enterobacter cloacae has recently emerged as one of the most common carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae . The emergence and spread of metallo-β-lactamase-producing E. cloacae have posed an immediate threat globally. Here, we investigated the molecular characteristics of 84 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae (CREL) collected from three tertiary hospitals in China between 2012 and 2016. Species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using a VITEK-2 system. Carbapenems, polymyxins B, and tigecycline were tested by broth microdilution method. The carbapenem in activation method (CIM) and cefoxitin three-dimensional test were used to detect carbapenemase and AmpC β-lactamase, respectively. Isolates were screened for β-lactam resistance genes by PCR, and expression of ompC and ompF was determined by qRT-PCR. Genetic relatedness was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), while selected isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Among the 84 CREL isolates, 50 (59.5%) were detected as carbapenemase producers. NDM-1 was the dominant carbapenemase (80.0%), followed by IMP-26 (8.0%) and IMP-4 (6.0%). Notably, we identified the first NDM-1 and IMP-1 co-producing E. cloacae , carrying plasmids of several incompatibility (Inc) groups, including IncHI2, IncHI2A, and IncN. Most isolates showed decreased expression of ompC and/or ompF , and contained a broad distribution of ESBLs and AmpC β-lactamases. These findings suggested that different molecular mechanisms, including carbapenemase, ESBL and/or AmpC plus loss of porins, have contributed to carbapenem resistance. The bla NDM−1 -harboring plasmids contained highly conserved gene environment around bla NDM−1 ( bla NDM−1 - ble MBL - trpF - dsbD - cutA1 - groES - groEL ), which could be associated with the potential dissemination of bla NDM−1 . IMP-type MBL was located within a variety of integrons and usually contained various gene cassettes encoding multidrug resistance. These isolates produced 54 different pulsotypes, and were classified into 42 STs by MLST. Nineteen bla NDM−1 -positive E. cloacae isolates obtained from Ningxia had the same pulsotype (PFGE type 1), belonging to ST78 within clonal complex 74 (CC74). The plasmid-based replicon typing indicated that IncX3 plasmids mediated the dissemination of bla NDM−1 among these homologous strains. This is the first report on the outbreak of N...

BackgroundAcinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen which is reported as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). However, there is a lack of analysis focused on multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) infection among patients from pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular characterization of MDRAB isolated from PICU.MethodsIn this study, 86 isolates of MDRAB were collected from PICU patients, from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the isolates against common antibiotics were determined. The carbapenemase-encoding resistance genes and AdeABC-AdeRS efflux system genes of these isolates were detected by PCR. Real-time PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of the relevant efflux pumps.ResultsAmong 86 strains of MDRAB, 76.7% (66/86) were carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB). All 86 clinical isolates possessed the blaOXA-51 gene. BlaOXA-23 was detected as the second most frequent (90.7%) carbapenemase. Harboring AdeABC efflux pump genes was prevalent among the majority of the MDR isolates. Specially, the distributions of AdeABC-AdeRS efflux system genes in CRAB strains reached up to 90.0%. Compared with those of the CSAB strains, there was a statistically significant increasing distribution of the regulator AdeR and AdeS genes(p < 0.05). Moreover, CRAB strains showed significantly increased expression of AdeB(12.3- fold), but decreased expression of AdeR (3.3- fold)(p < 0.05).ConclusionThe present study showed a high distribution of multiple genes, mainly the genes of blaOXA-23/blaOXA-51 carbapenemase and AdeABC efflux pump, is responsible to distinct drug-resistance in PICU. It is urgent to strengthen the molecular epidemiological surveillance of pediatric MDRAB isolates to prevent further outbreaks. This study is of significant help for the clinicians to make therapeutic decisions and manage infection control in PICU.

Background Bergeyella zoohelcum is an aerobic, Gram-negative bacterium that is frequently isolated from the upper respiratory tract of dogs, cats and other mammals. Clinically, B. zoohelcum has been reported causing cellulitis, tenosynovitis, leg abscess and septicemia, which is closely connected with animal bites. Here we describe a case of bacteremia in an infective endocarditis (IE) patient caused by B. zoohelcum, in China.Case presentationA 27-year-old infective endocarditis woman who had no history of dog bite nor other mammal exposure suffered bacteremia caused by B. zoohelcum. This patient, without evidence of polymicrobial infection, was treated with cefuroxime and had a good outcome.Conclusions B. zoolhelcum bacteremia is rarely reported in IE patients. Our report expands the range of known bacterial causes of infective endocarditis.

BackgroundRoseomonas mucosa, as a Gram-negative coccobacilli, is an opportunistic pathogen that has rarely been reported in human infections. Here we describe a case of bacteremia in an infective endocarditis patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Case presentationsA 44-year-old female patient with SLE suffered bacteremia caused by Roseomonas mucosa complicated with infective endocarditis (IE). The patient started on treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam and levofloxacin against Roseomonas mucosa, which was switched after 4 days to meropenem and amikacin for an additional 2 weeks. She had a favorable outcome with a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotic therapy.Discussion and conclusionsRoseomonas mucosa is rarely reported in IE patients; therefore, we report the case in order to improve our ability to identify this pathogen and expand the range of known bacterial causes of infective endocarditis.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections have become a global health threat. Controlling CRE transmission in hospitals is increasingly dependent on the use of disinfectants to restrict the risk of infection. Here, the susceptibility of patient-derived carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and Escherichia coli (CREC) strains against three common disinfectants and the determinants of resistance to disinfectants were investigated. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of three common chemical disinfectants: chlorhexidine, trichloroisocyanuric (TCCA) acid and Povidone iodine (PVP-I) against 50 CRE strains were measured. The drug-resistance genes-qacEΔ1, qacA/B and cepA-were determined using polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 36 CRKP and 14 CREC strains were collected in our hospital from 2016 to 2018. The MIC ranges of 36 CRKP strains against chlorhexidine, TCCA and PVP-I were 8~512 mg/L, 64~128 mg/L and 8~128 mg/L, respectively. For 14 CREC strains, the MIC ranges against chlorhexidine, TCCA and PVP-I were 4~128 mg/L, 64~128 mg/L and 4~128 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, against chlorhexidine and PVP-I, the MIC 90 of 36 CRKP strains was higher than that of 50 CSKP strains. The qacE△1 gene was detected in 15 isolates among 36 CRKP strains (41.7%), and 8 isolates among 14 CREC strains (57.1%); while the qacA/B gene was not detected. Specifically, the cepA gene was much more prevalent than the qacEΔ1; it reached over 80% among CRKP strains. Compared to the CSKP strains, the presence of the qacEΔ1 and cepA genes was significantly higher among the CRKP strains (p < 0.05). Conclusion: CRE strains collected from patients in our hospital exhibit various degree of resistance to the commonly used chemical disinfectants. It is of great help to keep monitoring the tendency of the reduced susceptibility of the pan-resistant strains against disinfectants, in order to effectively control and prevent the spread of the super resistant bacteria.