Characterisation of fosfomycin resistance in urinary pathogens from the Western Cape, South Africa.

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the most commonly acquired bacterial infections worldwide. The South African Department of Health advised that fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and gentamicin be used for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI due to other antibiotics showing adverse side effects. Fosfomycin has effectively been utilised in the management of UTI, however resistance has been detected in urinary pathogens at the Tygerberg Hospital National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) Medical Microbiology diagnostic laboratory. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fosfomycin resistance among community-acquired urinary pathogens in the Western Cape and to characterise fosfomycin resistance mechanisms in fosfomycin resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Methods and Materials: Two-hundred urinary isolates (Enterobacterales and Enterococcus spp.) from antenatal clinics in the Western Cape were collected from the Tygerberg Hospital NHLS Medical Microbiology laboratory during 2019 and 2020 and used to determine the prevalence of fosfomycin resistance. Fosfomycin susceptibility was determined using disc diffusion and Etest®. Fosfomycin resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates from the prevalence study and another set of fosfomycin resistant isolates (5 E. coli and 19 K. pneumoniae) collected from urine samples submitted to the NHLS at Tygerberg Hospital in 2017 (Ethics #: U17/05/026) were used to characterise fosfomycin mechanisms. FosA mediated resistance was determined using a phenotypic assay and fosA genes were detected by PCR. Mutations in the fosfomycin target gene murA and transporter genes, glpT and uhpT, were characterised by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. Results: Fosfomycin resistance was detected in 3.5% of community-acquired urinary pathogens. Fosfomycin resistance rates were 2.2% in E. coli (3/139) and 12.9% in other Enterobacterales. All Enterococcus spp. isolates were susceptible to fosfomycin. In the combined sample set of 31 fosfomycin resistant isolates, the phenotypic assay detected FosA in only 7 isolates, while fosA genes were detected by PCR in 25. Chromosomal mutations were identified in 6 isolates, of which three isolates (1 K. pneumoniae and 2 E. coli) had deletions in the uhpT gene, which has previously been reported to confer fosfomycin resistance. The role of other mutations found in the glpT gene of E. coli and the murA and glpT of K. pneumoniae isolates has not been determined. Conclusion: The fosfomycin resistance rate in community-acquired UTI was low, which supports the careful ongoing use of fosfomycin for the treatment of uncomplicated community-acquired UTI. FosA mediated resistance was the most common mechanism of fosfomycin resistance identified in this population.
AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Infeksies van die urinêre traktus is die mees algemene bakteriële infeksies wat wêreldwyd opgedoen word. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Gesondheid beveel aan dat fosfomisien, nitrofurantoïen en gentamisien die gewenste middels is vir die behandeling van ongekompliseerde infeksies van die urinêre traktus (UTI) weens ander middels se newe-effek profiele. Alhoewel fosfomisien tans effektief vir behandeling aangewend word, is daar weerstandige patogene gevind by Tygerberg Hospitaal Nasionale Gesondheidslaboratoriumdiens (NGLD) se Mediese Mikrobiologie diagnostiese laboratorium. Hierdie studie poog om die prevalensie van fosfomisien-weerstandige gemeenskapsverwante urinêre patogene in die Wes-Kaap te bepaal, asook om die weerstandigheidsmeganismes in fosfomisien-weerstandige Escherichia coli en Klebsiella pneumoniae te karakteriseer. Metodes en materiale: Tweehonderd urinêre isolate (Enterobacterales en Enterococcus spesies) vanaf voorgeboorte klinieke in die Wes-Kaap is vanuit Tygerberg Hospitaal NGLD se Mediese Mikrobiologie laboratorium versamel tydens die periode 2019 tot 2020 met die doel om die fosfomisien-weerstandigheidsprevalensie te bepaal. Fosfomisien-vatbaarheid is bepaal met skyfdiffusie en die Etest® toets. Alle fosfomisien-weerstandige E. coli en K. pneumoniae isolate van hierdie prevalensie studie asook isolate vanaf ‘n vooraf versamelde stel (5 E. coli and 19 K. pneumoniae) is bestudeer om die weerstandigheidsmeganismes te karakteriseer Die vorige stel isolate is verkry in 2017 (Etiese #: U17/05/026) vanuit urinêre monsters wat by Tygerberg Hospitaal NGLD laboratorium ingedien is. FosA-gemedieërde weerstandigheid is bepaal met behulp van ‘n fenotipiese toets en fosA gene is met ‘n polimerase kettingreaksie (PKR) opgespoor. Mutasies in die fosfomisien teikengeen murA en die vervoerdergene glpT en uhpT, is met PKR en Sanger volgorde bepalingstoetsing bespeur. Resultate: Fosfomisien-weerstandigheid is gewaar in 3.5% van die gemeenskapsverwante urinêre patogene. Die fosfomisien-weerstandigheidskoers was 2.2% in E. coli (3/139) en 12.9% in ander Enterobacterales spesies. Alle Enterococcus spesies was vatbaar vir fosfomisien. In die gekombineerde monsterstel van 31 fosfomisien-weerstandige isolate het die fenotipiese toets FosA in slegs sewe isolate opgespoor terwyl PKR die fosA geen in 25 isolate opgespoor het. Chromosomale mutasies is in ses isolate geïdentifiseer waarvan drie isolate (1 K. pneumoniae en 2 E. coli) genetiese skrappings in die uhpT geen getoon het.
Description
Thsesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Bacterial diseases, Antibiotic resistance, Fosfomycin, Urinary tract infections, Urinary isolates, Urinary pathogens, UCTD
Citation