Genomic characterisation of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in Rabat, Morocco. (September 2021) - Ambroise, Jérôme
Highlights: Whole-genome sequence analysis of 18 multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from Rabat, Morocco, was performed. The majority of E. coli were ST131 ( n = 15), followed by ST617 ( n = 2) and a novel ST (ST10703). All ST131 belonged to the O25b-ST131 pandemic clone and harboured more virulence genes than their non-ST131 counterparts. ABSTRACT: Objectives: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are an increasingly significant cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections worldwide. Whereas several reports have highlighted their increased prevalence also in North African countries, genomic data on isolates associated with these infections are still scarce. This study aimed to provide data on ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from patients with extraintestinal infections at the Military Teaching Hospital Mohamed V of Rabat, Morocco. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was carried out on 18 ESBL-producing extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) isolates for analysis of phylogenomic evolution, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes. Data were compared with ExPEC lineages from several surrounding countries using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and single nucleotide polymorphism-based phylogenetic approaches. Results: The majority of E. coli isolates were ST131 ( n = 15), followed by ST617 ( n = 2) and a novel sequence type (ST10703) that is closely related to the pandemic ST405 clone. All ST131 isolates belonged to the O25b-ST131 pandemic clone. They harboured more virulence genes than their non-ST131 counterparts . IncF plasmid replicons and the bla CTX-M-15 β-lactamase gene were identified in all isolates. No ESBL-producing E. coli isolates carried any known carbapenemase gene. Conclusion: Our findings underscore the pre-eminence of ST131 as the major factor driving the expansion of ExPEC in the Rabat region while highlighting the potential links with isolates circulating in other neighbouring countries.