Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 70: Issue 2
Molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from patients in COVID-19 wards and ICUs in a Bulgarian University Hospital
Authors:
Dobromira Savova Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital “St. Marina”- Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
Department of Microbiology and Virology, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria

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Denis Niyazi Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital “St. Marina”- Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
Department of Microbiology and Virology, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria

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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3666-3802
,
Milena Bozhkova Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital “St. Marina”- Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
Department of Microbiology and Virology, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria

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Temenuga Stoeva Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital “St. Marina”- Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
Department of Microbiology and Virology, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria

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Pages:
142–146
Online Publication Date:
18 May 2023
Publication Date:
16 Jun 2023
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/030.2023.02048
Keywords:
COVID-19 wards; carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae; intrahospital dissemination
Restricted access

Abstract

Many studies report an increase in antimicrobial resistance of Gram – negative bacteria during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to evaluate the epidemiological relationship between carbapenem-resistant (CR) Enterobacteriaceae isolates from patients in COVID-19 wards and to investigate the main mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in these isolates during the period April 2020–July 2021. A total of 45 isolates were studied: Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 37), Klebsiella oxytoca (n = 2), Enterobacter cloacae complex (n = 4) and Escherichia coli (n = 2). Multiplex PCR was used for detection of genes encoding carbapenemases from different classes (blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaOXA-48). For epidemiological typing and analysis, ERIC PCR was performed. Two clinical isolates of E. cloacae, previously identified as representatives of two dominant hospital clones from the period 2014–2017, were included in the study for comparison. In the CR K. pneumoniae group, 23 (62.2%) carried blaKPC, 13 (35.1%) blaNDM, 10 (27.0%) blaVIM, and 9 (24.3%) were positive for both blaKPC and blaVIM. The blaKPC was identified also in the two isolates of K. oxytoca and blaVIM in all E. cloacae complex isolates. The two CR isolates of E. coli possessed blaKPC and blaOXA-48 genes. Epidemiological typing identified 18 ERIC profiles among K. pneumoniae, some presented as clusters of identical and/or closely related isolates. The carbapenem resistance in the studied collection of isolates is mediated mainly by blaKPC. During the COVID-19 pandemic intrahospital dissemination of CR K. pneumoniae, producing carbapenemases of different molecular classes, as well as continuing circulation of dominant hospital clones of multidrug-resistant E. cloacae complex was documented.

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Cover Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica A Quarterly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN:
1217-8950
Online ISSN:
1588-2640

Senior editors

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dóra Szabó (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Managing Editor: Dr. Béla Kocsis (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Co-editor: Dr. Andrea Horváth (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Editorial Board

  • Prof. Éva ÁDÁM (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Sebastian AMYES (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.)
  • Dr. Katalin BURIÁN (Institute of Clinical Microbiology University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Orsolya DOBAY (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ildikó Rita DUNAY (Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany)
  • Prof. Levente EMŐDY(Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Anna ERDEI (Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Éva Mária FENYŐ (Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden)
  • Prof. László FODOR (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. József KÓNYA (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Yvette MÁNDI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Károly MÁRIALIGETI (Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. János MINÁROVITS (Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Béla NAGY (Centre for Agricultural Research, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. István NÁSZ (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Kristóf NÉKÁM (Hospital of the Hospitaller Brothers in Buda, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Eszter OSTORHÁZI (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Rozália PUSZTAI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Peter L. RÁDY (Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Prof. Éva RAJNAVÖLGYI (Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ferenc ROZGONYI (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Joseph G. SINKOVICS (The Cancer Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA)
  • Prof. Júlia SZEKERES (Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Mária TAKÁCS (National Reference Laboratory for Viral Zoonoses, National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Edit URBÁN (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)

 

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Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 1954
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
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Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1217-8950 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2640 (Online)

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