Molecular epidemiology of NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli high-risk clones identified in two Italian hospitals in 2017-2019

• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115399
• Publication Date: 2021-04-21T05:45:07Z
• Authors: Giulia Bibbolino; Federica Maria Di...; Alessandra Oliva; Miriam Lichtner; Cosmo Del Borgo; Giammarco Raponi; Maria Trancassini; Fabio Mengoni; Gabriele Arcari; Guido Antonelli; Alessandra Carattoli
• Keywords: Multilocus sequence typing; clone (Java method); Molecular Epidemiology

Between November 2018 and October 2019, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales carrying New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) caused one of the largest and persistent outbreaks occurred in Italy and intensified surveillance measures have been taken in all Italian hospitals. In this study we analyzed NDM-5- producing Escherichia coli identified in 2 hospitals of the Lazio region in Italy. Epidemiological and microbiological data demonstrated that in 2018-2019 the NDM-5-producing high-risk E. coli ST167 clone circulated in patients from both hospitals. In 2019, another NDM-5-producing E. coli clone, identified by MLST as ST617 was introduced in one of the 2 hospitals and caused an outbreak. This study describes an application of genomics as a useful method to discern endemic and outbreak clones when applied to strains of the same species (E. coli) with the same resistance determinant (NDM-5) and the relevance of screening patients admitted in critical units for carbapenemase producers to prevent outbreaks.