Large Fecal Reservoir of Escherichia coli Sequence Type 131-H30 Subclone Strains That Are Shared Within Households and Resemble Clinical ST131-H30 Isolates. (18th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed, Muhanad; Clabots, Connie; Porter, Stephen B; Bender, Tricia; Thuras, Paul; Johnson, James R
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 221:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1659
• Page End: 1668
• Publication Date: 2019-12-18
• Subjects: Escherichia coli -- ST131 -- fluoroquinolone resistance -- intestinal colonization -- strain sharing; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz669
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Emerging antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli represent mainly the nested (fluoroquinolone-resistant [FQR]) H 30R and H 30Rx subclones within sequence type 131 (ST131). Intestinal colonization and within-household transmission may underlie H 30R's emergence. Methods: We screened fecal samples from 741 volunteers (383 veterans, 358 household members, including pets) for ST131 and FQR E. coli (FQREC) and used molecular profiling to resolve unique strains. Selected strains underwent PCR-based detection of phylogroups, sequence types (STs), H 30, H 30Rx, and 53 virulence genes (VGs). Within-household strain sharing was compared with household, host, and bacterial characteristics. Fecal isolates were compared with clinical isolates. Results: Colonization prevalence was 5.1% for H 30R, 8% for ST131 (67% FQREC), and 10% for FQREC (52% ST131). ST131 isolates exhibited more VGs than non-ST131 isolates. Strain sharing (27% of multisubject households, 18% of corresponding subjects) was associated with the elderly, FQREC, H 30R, H 30Rx, ST73, and specific VGs. Fecal ST131 and FQREC isolates resembled contemporaneous and historical clinical isolates according to all studied traits. Conclusions: Veterans and their human household members commonly carry and extensively share FQREC, predominantly H 30R, thereby likely facilitating the ST131 pandemic. Strain sharing corresponds with multiple bacterial characteristics, including FQ resistance and specific VGs, which may promote intestinal colonization and/or host-to-host transmission. Abstract : Uninfected veterans and their household members commonly carried and shared fluoroquinolone-resistant gut E. coli, predominantly ST131- H 30R, likely facilitating the ST131 pandemic. Strain sharing corresponded with fluoroquinolone resistance and specific "virulence genes, " which may also promote intestinal colonization and/or host-to-host transmission.