Occurrence of NDM-1 and VIM-2 Co-Producing Escherichia coli and OprD Alteration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Hospital Environment Samples in Northwestern Tunisia

Hospital environments constitute the main reservoir of multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study we aimed to investigate the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in one Northwestern Tunisian hospital environment, and characterize the genes involved in bacterial resistance. A total of 152 environmental isolates were collected from various surfaces and isolated using MacConkey medium supplemented with cefotaxime or imipenem, with 81 fermenter bacteria (27 Escherichia coli, and 54 Enterobacter spp., including 46 Enterobacter cloacae), and 71 non-fermenting bacteria (69 Pseudomonas spp., including 54 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 2 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia) being identified by the MALDI-TOF-MS method. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method and E-Test was used to determine MICs for imipenem. Several genes implicated in beta-lactams resistance were characterized by PCR and sequencing. Carbapenem resistance was detected among 12 isolates; nine E. coli (bla(NDM-1) (n = 8); bla(NDM-1) + bla(VIM-2) (n = 1)) and three P. aeruginosa were carbapenem-resistant by loss of OprD porin. The whole-genome sequencing of P. aeruginosa 97H was determined using Illumina MiSeq sequencer, typed ST285, and harbored bla(OXA-494). Other genes were also detected, notably bla(TEM) (n = 23), bla(CTX-M-1) (n = 10) and bla(CTX-M-9) (n = 6). These new epidemiological data imposed new surveillance strategies and strict hygiene rules to decrease the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in this area.

Automated summary

This study investigated the presence of Gram-negative bacteria in a hospital environment in Northwestern Tunisia, identifying various resistant strains and characterizing the resistance genes involved. Carbapenem resistance was detected in several isolates, with different resistance genes such as bla(NDM-1) and bla(CTX-M) being identified. Whole-genome sequencing of a P. aeruginosa strain revealed the presence of bla(OXA-494) and other resistance genes. This new epidemiological data highlights the need for new surveillance strategies and strict hygiene rules to control the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria.