Infection and Drug Resistance (Jan 2020)
Molecular Characteristics and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Elizabethkingia Clinical Isolates in Shanghai, China
Abstract
Leilei Wang, 1, 2 Xuefei Zhang, 1, 2 Dan Li, 1, 2 Fupin Hu, 1, 2 Minggui Wang, 1, 2 Qinglan Guo, 1, 2 Fan Yang 1, 2 1Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology of Antibiotics, Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fan Yang; Qinglan GuoInstitute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai 200040, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 21 52888193Email [email protected]; [email protected]: To investigate molecular characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical isolates of Elizabethkingia in Shanghai, China.Methods: Elizabethkingia isolates were collected in a university-affiliated hospital in 2012– 2015 and 2017– 2018. They were re-identified to species level by 16S rRNA gene and species-specific gene sequencing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, screening for metallo-beta-lactamase production, identification of antimicrobial resistance genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed.Results: Among 52 Elizabethkingia isolates, E. anophelis was the most prevalent species (67.3%), followed by E. meningoseptica (26.9%). High carriage rates of blaCME, blaBlaB and blaGOB genes were consistent with the poor in vitro activity of most β-lactams including carbapenems. Nevertheless, β-lactamase inhibitors increased susceptibility rates significantly for cefoperazone and piperacillin. Susceptibility rates for minocycline, tigecycline, rifampin and levofloxacin were 100%, 78.8%, 76.9% and 71.2%, respectively. Ser83Ile or Ser83Arg substitution in the DNA gyrase A unit was associated with resistance to fluoroquinolones. MIC 50/MIC 90 values of vancomycin and linezolid were 16/16 mg/L and 16/32 mg/L, respectively. Molecular typing showed twenty-one different types of PFGE and more than one indistinguishable isolates were observed in each of the eight subtypes.Conclusion: Tetracyclines, tigecycline, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, rifampin and fluoroquinolones demonstrated high rates of in vitro activity against clinical isolates of Elizabethkingia. Both genetic diversity and clonality were observed from this health-care facility. Our report provides potential alternative treatment options for Elizabethkingia infections.Keywords: Elizabethkingia, antimicrobial susceptibility, molecular typing, multidrug resistance, resistant mechanism
