Comparative Genomics Analysis Demonstrated a Link Between Staphylococci Isolated From Different Sources: A Possible Public Health Risk

Abstract

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have been recovered from different ecological niches, however, little is known about the genetic relatedness of these isolates. In this study, we used whole genome sequencing to compare mecA positive (mecA+) Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus hominis isolates recovered from hand-touched surfaces from general public settings in East and West London with data of isolates deposited to European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) by other research groups. These included isolates associated with hospital settings (including those recovered from patients), healthy humans, livestock, pets, plants and natural, and other public environments. Using core and accessory phylogenetic analyses we were able to identify that the mecA+ S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolates recovered from general public settings were genetically related to isolates recovered from the bloodstream, urinary tract and eye infections. S. epidermidis isolates recovered in our study were also shown to be genetically related to isolates previously recovered from livestock/livestock housing, whereas S. haemolyticus isolates were genetically related to isolates recovered from a dog and kefir (fermented cow milk drink). MecA+S. hominis isolates were not genetically related to any isolates recovered from clinical samples but were genetically related to isolates recovered from mosquitoes, air samples (residential areas) and kefir. All three species showed to have genetic relatedness to isolates recovered from healthy humans. These results show that CoNS isolates in this study share genetic similarities with those of different lineages and that mecA+ S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolates found in general public settings in this study may pose a risk to public health.

From Soil to Surface: Green Infrastructure Enhances Microbial Communities in the Built Environment

“…For example, Cutibacterium acnes , which was notably abundant in the museum samples, is a well-known skin commensal-the most prevalent bacteria residing in human, healthy, sebum-rich skin areas such as the face and back [28] . Similarly, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus hominis , are also human-associated bacteria that thrive in indoor environments, and its presence in the museum samples align with previous studies reporting that staphylococci, usual colonisers of the human skin and upper respiratory tract, are commonly spread from humans to built environment surface and air [29][30][31] . Moraxella osloensis was reported to be the most abundant species across the exhibition samples, and is gram-negative aerobic bacterium that is considered to be an opportunistic human-associated pathogen, previously isolated from the upper respiratory tract, blood, genitourethral speciments, and other sites in humans [32][33][34] .…”

Pathogen Control in the Built Environment: A Probiotic-Based System as a Remedy for the Spread of Antibiotic Resistance

“…Staphylococci, usual colonizers of the human skin and upper respiratory tract, are commonly spread from humans to BE surfaces and air [59][60][61]. Many staphylococcal species can become opportunistic pathogens and cause severe diseases including blood-stream, lung, soft tissue, and skin infections [62], but also atopic diseases such as asthma and hay fever [63].…”

Surveillance and prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria from public settings within urban built environments: Challenges and opportunities for hygiene and infection control

“…Only a few studies ( Cave et al, 2019 , Kang et al, 2018 , Roberts et al, 2013 , Shen et al, 2018 ) have focussed on general public settings in built-up environments but the studies that have been conducted generally shown that public settings have a high abundance of AMR resistance across different species. Some of these species pose a public health risk as they have genetic linkage to isolates that have caused infections in humans and livestock animals ( Cave et al, 2021 , Xu et al, 2018b , Zou et al, 2019 ). The main issues with many of these studies ( Conceição et al, 2013 , Zhou and Wang, 2013 , Kahsay et al, 2019 ) is that they tend to focus on relevant clinical bacteria (including those belonging to the genus Staphylococcaceae and Enterobacteriaceae ), recovered from surfaces and from the air: little is known about the diversity of antimicrobial resistant bacterial species and AMR genes present in public settings and the built environment around the globe, including how bacteria come to be in such environments and the main barriers or enablers of transmission and resistance emergence.…”

“…There is only a limited number of studies on the prevalence of CoNS in non-healthcare public settings and the general built environment. These studies have investigated shopping centres ( Cave et al, 2019 , Cave et al, 2021 ), train stations ( Cave et al, 2019 , Cave et al, 2021 , Peng et al, 2015 , Xu et al, 2018b , Zhou and Wang, 2013 ), hotel rooms, supermarkets, restaurants, public transport, public libraries ( Xu et al, 2018b ), around the world; public restrooms ( Cave et al, 2019 , Cave et al, 2021 , Mkrtchyan et al, 2013 ) and public areas in hospitals in London, UK ( Cave et al, 2019 , Cave et al, 2021 ); university campuses in Thailand ( Seng et al, 2017 ), and the metro system in China ( Peng et al, 2015 , Zhou and Wang, 2013 ) and food markets in Assam, India ( Sivaraman et al, 2020 ).…”

“…From the literature we reviewed for AMR bacteria in public settlings and built environments and our own previous research; we identified a threat to human health from Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae recovered from the surfaces found in many public settings including, hotels ( Xu et al, 2015 ), washrooms ( Mkrtchyan et al, 2013 ) and general public settings ( Cave et al, 2019 , Cave et al, 2021 ), university campuses and recreational beaches in the USA ( Roberts et al, 2013 ); public transport ( Conceição et al, 2013 , Lin et al, 2017 , Lutz et al, 2014 , Peng et al, 2015 , Kahsay et al, 2019 ); and shopping baskets in Japan ( Domon et al, 2015 ) as well as from rivers ( Ahammad et al, 2014 , Tafoukt et al, 2017 ) and companion animals ( Pulss et al, 2018 , Shaheen et al, 2013 )…”