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Serveur académique lausannois
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Plasmid diversity of Serratia marcescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates involved in two carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks in a Swiss hospital

Authors: Florian Mauffrey; Claire Bertelli; Gilbert Greub; Bruno Grandbastien; Laurence Senn; Dominique S. Blanc;

Plasmid diversity of Serratia marcescens and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates involved in two carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks in a Swiss hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates two distinct carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks involving patients and contaminated sink traps at the University Hospital of Lausanne. It focuses on the diversity and transmission dynamics of plasmids carrying carbapenemase genes. Between 2022 and 2023, 57 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens isolates were collected and analyzed. Core-genome MLST confirmed genetic similarity among isolates, linking the outbreaks to sink trap contamination. DNA extraction, sequencing (MinION/Illumina MiSeq), and assembly were performed, followed by ARG screening and plasmid typing. Plasmids were annotated, clustered, and compared using core SNP distances and structural analyses. Known plasmids were identified through PLSDB database matching. Eight MLST types were identified in K. pneumoniae and one (ST356) in S. marcescens . Analysis of 52 bla -carrying plasmids revealed 22 plasmid clusters, including 6 bla NDM-1 clusters in K. pneumoniae and 4 bla KPC-2 clusters in S. marcescens . Plasmids showed close relatedness within and across patient and environmental isolates, with core SNP distances ranging from 0 to 18. Some bla NDM-1 plasmids in K. pneumoniae clustered tightly, suggesting persistence and potential cross-contamination routes. The findings highlight sink traps as critical reservoirs for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and plasmids, promoting resistance gene spread across species. The observed plasmid diversity indicates transmission can occur independently of bacterial clonal spread, challenging traditional outbreak definitions. IMPORTANCE This research is critical in addressing the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, driven by the spread of resistance genes through plasmids. Plasmids, which can transfer between different bacteria, play a major role in spreading multidrug resistance, posing a serious challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. By highlighting how plasmids can move independently of bacterial spread, this study reveals the complexity of resistance transmission. It also underscores the importance of environmental reservoirs, such as hospital sink traps, in harboring and spreading resistant bacteria. These findings emphasize the need for better monitoring of plasmids and targeted infection control measures to prevent the spread of resistance genes and protect the effectiveness of current antibiotics.

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Keywords

plasmids, carbapenemase, outbreak, Enterobacteriaceae, typing, Serratia marcescens/genetics; Serratia marcescens/isolation & purification; Serratia marcescens/drug effects; Klebsiella pneumoniae/genetics; Klebsiella pneumoniae/isolation & purification; Klebsiella pneumoniae/drug effects; Plasmids/genetics; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/genetics; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae/drug effects; Humans; Disease Outbreaks; beta-Lactamases/genetics; Klebsiella Infections/epidemiology; Klebsiella Infections/microbiology; Serratia Infections/epidemiology; Serratia Infections/microbiology; Switzerland/epidemiology; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Bacterial Proteins/genetics; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology; Carbapenems/pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Cross Infection/microbiology; Cross Infection/epidemiology; Genetic Variation; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/epidemiology; Enterobacteriaceae Infections/microbiology; Hospitals, University; Enterobacteriaceae; carbapenemase; outbreak; plasmids; typing, Microbiology, QR1-502, Research Article

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
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Average
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