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Prevalence and characterization of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy human carriers

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Abstract

Presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL-E), AmpC-producing and carbapenemase-producing (CPE) Enterobacteriaceae has been observed not only in the clinical environment, but also in the out-of-hospital environment. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize strains of ESBL, AmpC, and CPE present in feces of healthy carriers in Navarra (n = 125). Despite the fact that no CPE strains were isolated, 16% and 11.2% of the studied population were ESBL-E and AmpC carriers, respectively. No significant differences were found by gender or age; young people (5–18 years old) showed the highest ESBL-E prevalence (31.8%). The isolates corresponded to E. coli (57.1%), Enterobacter spp. (28.6%), and Citrobacter freundii (14.3%), and all strains showed multidrug-resistant profiles. High resistance against cephalosporins, penicillins, and monobactams, and sensitivity to carbapenems, quinolones, and aminoglycosides were observed. With respect to ESBL producers, 52.4% were CTX-M-type (19.0% CTX-M-14, 9.5% CTX-M-1, and 28.6% CTX-M-15) and 47.6% were TEM-type (38.1% TEM-171). These results confirm the extensive dissemination of these resistances among a healthy population and pose the need to implement control measures and strategies according to the One Health approach in order to prevent the increase of severe and untreatable infections in a not far future.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to give special thanks to the Department of Clinical Microbiology (Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain) for the use of their facilities and excellent technical assistance. We also wish to thank Carmen Torres for providing some of the control strains included in this study. English support provided by Laura Stokes is especially acknowledged.

Funding

This study has been supported by PIUNA (Research Plan of the University of Navarra) with the project title: “Caracterización fenotípica y filogenética de enterobacterias productoras de betalactamasas de espectro extendido en Navarra” (Phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing enterobacteriaceae in Navarra).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Navarra, C/Irunlarrea 1, 31008, Pamplona, Spain

    David González, Eibhlin Gallagher, Teresa Zúñiga & Ana Isabel Vitas

  2. Microbiology Service, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    José Leiva

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  1. David González
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  2. Eibhlin Gallagher
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  3. Teresa Zúñiga
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  4. José Leiva
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  5. Ana Isabel Vitas
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Correspondence to David González.

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González, D., Gallagher, E., Zúñiga, T. et al. Prevalence and characterization of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy human carriers. Int Microbiol 23, 171–177 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-019-00087-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-019-00087-z

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