Environmental dissemination of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in rivers in Switzerland. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bleichenbacher, Stephanie; Stevens, Marc J.A.; Zurfluh, Katrin; Perreten, Vincent; Endimiani, Andrea; Stephan, Roger; Nüesch-Inderbinen, Magdalena
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 265(2020)Part B
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Carbapenems -- Antibiotic resistance -- Plasmids -- Aquatic environment -- Pollution; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: The aquatic environment takes on a key role in the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. This study assesses the occurrence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in freshwater samples from rivers, inland canals, and streams throughout Switzerland, and characterizes the isolated strains using phenotypic and NGS-based genotypic methods. CPE producing KPC-2 (n = 2), KPC-3 (n = 1), NDM-5 (n = 3), OXA-48 (n = 3), OXA-181 (n = 6), and VIM-1 (n = 2) were detected in 17/164 of the water samples. Seven Escherichia coli had sequence types (STs) that belonged to extra-intestinal pathogenic clonal lineages ST38, ST73, ST167, ST410, and ST648. The majority (16/17) of the carbapenemase genes were located on plasmids, including the widespread IncC (n = 1), IncFIIA (n = 1), and IncFIIB plasmids (n = 4), the epidemic IncL (n = 1) and IncX3 (n = 5) plasmids, a rare Col156 plasmid (n = 1), and the mosaic IncFIB, IncR, and IncQ plasmids (n = 3). Plasmids were composed of elements that were identical to those of resistance plasmids retrieved from clinical and veterinary isolates locally and worldwide. Our data show environmental dissemination of high-risk CPE clones in Switzerland. Epidemic and mosaic-like plasmids carrying clinically relevant carbapenemase genes are replicating and evolving pollutants of river ecosystems, representing a threat to public health and environmental integrity. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Carbapenemase producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are present in surface waters. Many environmental CPE are similar to clinical strains found worldwide. Clinically relevant carbapenemase genes were identified on epidemic plasmids. Carbapenemase genes are replicating and evolving pollutants of river ecosystems. Abstract : Carbapenem-producing Enterobacteriaceae and their genetic mechanisms of resistance are replicating and evolving pollutants of river ecosystems, representing a threat to public health.