Antimicrobial resistance in Aeromonas species isolated from aquatic environments in Brazil

Abstract

Aim The current study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile and genetic relatedness of Aeromonas sp. isolated from healthcare and urban effluents, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and river water. Methods and Results We detected the presence of genes conferring resistance to β‐lactam, quinolone and aminoglycoside. Multilocus sequence typing was carried out to differentiate the strains, and multilocus phylogenetic analysis was used to identify the species. A total of 28 cefotaxime‐resistant Aeromonas sp. strains were identified, harbouring uncommon Guiana‐extended‐spectrum (GES)‐type β‐lactamases (GES‐1, GES‐5, GES‐7 and GES‐16). Multidrug‐resistant Aeromonas sp. were found in hospital wastewater, WWTP and sanitary effluent, and A. caviae was identified as the most prevalent species (85·7%). Conclusion The release of untreated healthcare effluents, presence of antimicrobials in the environment, in addition to multidrug‐resistant Aeromonas sp., are all potential factors for the spread of resistance. Significance and Impact of the Study We identified a vast repertoire of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) in Aeromonas sp. from diverse aquatic ecosystems, including those that encode enzymes degrading broad‐spectrum antimicrobials widely used to treat healthcare‐associated infections. Hospital and sanitary effluents serve as potential sources of bacteria harbouring ARG and are a threat to public health.

Novel Insights into bla GES Mobilome Reveal Extensive Genetic Variation in Hospital Effluents

“…In southern Brazil, epidemiological studies conducted by our group have shown a gradual increase in antimicrobial resistance in hospitalized patients in the last 20 years ( 15 – 17 ). However, GES enzymes were not found ( 18 , 19 ). Although GES enzymes have already been reported in several countries, few studies have explored the genetic context of these ARGs, especially in Brazil.…”

Antimicrobial Sensitivity Profile of Bacteria Isolated in Babitonga Bay

“…The study by Conte et al (2020) evaluated the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in the bacterium Aeromonas spp., present in wastewater and hospital and domestic e uents, in the region of Curitiba, Paraná. The study found the presence of the bla CTX-M , bla TEM and bla GES genes.…”

Aeromonas and Human Health Disorders: Clinical Approaches

“…Aeromonads are considered emergent pathogens and its detection in various diarrheal stool samples clearly shows they are not as far from clinical routine as other enteric microorganisms ( Li et al, 2015 ; Mohan et al, 2017 ; Mbuthia et al, 2018 ). Consequently, interest about the genus Aeromonas , which embraces 36 recognized species, has risen over the past years ( Fernández-Bravo and Figueras, 2020 ; Ahmed et al, 2021 ; Conte et al, 2021 ).…”

“…The Aeromonas possess wide spectra of antibiotic resistance profile and occurrence of multi-resistant strains have already been reported ( Galler et al, 2018 ; Conte et al, 2021 ). As inhabitants of aquatic environments, these microorganisms can be used as ecological indicators of water pollution since they harbor antibiotic resistance genes obtained from wastewater effluents ( Baron et al, 2017 ; Grilo et al, 2020 ).…”