Clonal Clusters, Molecular Resistance Mechanisms and Virulence Factors of Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Chronic Wounds in Ghana
Denise Dekker,
Frederik Pankok,
Thorsten Thye,
Stefan Taudien,
Kwabena Oppong,
Charity Wiafe Akenten,
Maike Lamshöft,
Anna Jaeger,
Martin Kaase,
Simone Scheithauer,
Konstantin Tanida,
Hagen Frickmann,
Jürgen May,
Ulrike Loderstädt
Affiliations
Denise Dekker
Department Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Frederik Pankok
Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Thorsten Thye
Department Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Stefan Taudien
Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Kwabena Oppong
Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), South-End, Asuogya Road, Kumasi 039-5028, Ghana
Charity Wiafe Akenten
Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR), South-End, Asuogya Road, Kumasi 039-5028, Ghana
Maike Lamshöft
Department Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Anna Jaeger
Department Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Martin Kaase
Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Simone Scheithauer
Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Konstantin Tanida
Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, External Site at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Hagen Frickmann
Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, External Site at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Jürgen May
Department Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Ulrike Loderstädt
Institute for Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
Wound infections are common medical problems in sub-Saharan Africa but data on the molecular epidemiology are rare. Within this study we assessed the clonal lineages, resistance genes and virulence factors of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from Ghanaian patients with chronic wounds. From a previous study, 49 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 21 Klebsiellapneumoniae complex members and 12 Escherichia coli were subjected to whole genome sequencing. Sequence analysis indicated high clonal diversity with only nine P. aeruginosa clusters comprising two strains each and one E. coli cluster comprising three strains with high phylogenetic relationship suggesting nosocomial transmission. Acquired beta-lactamase genes were observed in some isolates next to a broad spectrum of additional genetic resistance determinants. Phenotypical expression of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase activity in the Enterobacterales was associated with blaCTX-M-15 genes, which are frequent in Ghana. Frequently recorded virulence genes comprised genes related to invasion and iron-uptake in E. coli, genes related to adherence, iron-uptake, secretion systems and antiphagocytosis in P. aeruginosa and genes related to adherence, biofilm formation, immune evasion, iron-uptake and secretion systems in K. pneumonia complex. In summary, the study provides a piece in the puzzle of the molecular epidemiology of Gram-negative bacteria in chronic wounds in rural Ghana.
