Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates

ABSTRACT Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC), which is rapidly increasing as the cause of nosocomial infections, has limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the microbiological and clinical traits and molecular epidemiology of isolates of CR-ECC and...

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Main Authors: Jinyoung Yang, Jin Yang Baek, Jae-Hoon Ko, Kyungmin Huh, Sun Young Cho, Doo Ryeon Chung, Kyong Ran Peck, Hee Jae Huh, Kwan Soo Ko, Cheol-In Kang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-02-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01604-24
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author Jinyoung Yang
Jin Yang Baek
Jae-Hoon Ko
Kyungmin Huh
Sun Young Cho
Doo Ryeon Chung
Kyong Ran Peck
Hee Jae Huh
Kwan Soo Ko
Cheol-In Kang
author_facet Jinyoung Yang
Jin Yang Baek
Jae-Hoon Ko
Kyungmin Huh
Sun Young Cho
Doo Ryeon Chung
Kyong Ran Peck
Hee Jae Huh
Kwan Soo Ko
Cheol-In Kang
author_sort Jinyoung Yang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC), which is rapidly increasing as the cause of nosocomial infections, has limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the microbiological and clinical traits and molecular epidemiology of isolates of CR-ECC and provide guidance for antibiotic selection in clinical practice. Clinical CR-ECC isolates (ertapenem MIC ≥ 2 mg/L) were collected from 2021 to 2022. Species identification was performed using hsp60 gene analysis, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by broth microdilution. The clinical characteristics of patients with CR-ECC isolates were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 108 CR-ECC isolates, 25 (23.2%) were non-susceptible to colistin, with colistin susceptibility being higher in Enterobacter hormaechei compared to non-E. hormaechei isolates (P < 0.0001). Of the 108 CR-ECC isolates, 9 (8.3%) produced carbapenemases, and only 6 of the 22 colistin-resistant CR-ECC isolates (27.3%) harbored the mcr gene. A total of 73 sequence types (STs), including 28 newly identified STs, were detected, demonstrating significant clonal diversity. The most common ST was ST74, known for its high prevalence and association with carbapenem resistance, with 77.8% identified as E. hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii. E. hormaechei was more common in the colistin-susceptible group than in the non-susceptible group (88.0% vs 37.5%, P < 0.0001), and E. hormaechei was the only protective factor for colistin resistance (HR 0.089, CI 0.030–0.261, P < 0.001). Although colistin resistance of CR-ECC is high, colistin could be administered safely to E. hormaechei. It is imperative to maintain ongoing surveillance and to further research on CR-ECC.IMPORTANCEAlthough new antibiotics are being developed, there are still limited options for treating carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC) in regions where their use is restricted. The resistance level to one of these options, colistin, was investigated using bacteria isolated from clinical samples. In clinical practice, colistin is frequently administered empirically without susceptibility testing. However, this study suggests that colistin can be safely administered to certain species such as Enterobacter hormaechei within the CR-ECC.
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spelling doaj-art-34b6836f73e04abdab94bb68eae3fe782025-02-04T14:03:40ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-02-0113210.1128/spectrum.01604-24Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolatesJinyoung Yang0Jin Yang Baek1Jae-Hoon Ko2Kyungmin Huh3Sun Young Cho4Doo Ryeon Chung5Kyong Ran Peck6Hee Jae Huh7Kwan Soo Ko8Cheol-In Kang9Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaDepartment of Microbiology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South KoreaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South KoreaABSTRACT Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC), which is rapidly increasing as the cause of nosocomial infections, has limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the microbiological and clinical traits and molecular epidemiology of isolates of CR-ECC and provide guidance for antibiotic selection in clinical practice. Clinical CR-ECC isolates (ertapenem MIC ≥ 2 mg/L) were collected from 2021 to 2022. Species identification was performed using hsp60 gene analysis, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by broth microdilution. The clinical characteristics of patients with CR-ECC isolates were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 108 CR-ECC isolates, 25 (23.2%) were non-susceptible to colistin, with colistin susceptibility being higher in Enterobacter hormaechei compared to non-E. hormaechei isolates (P < 0.0001). Of the 108 CR-ECC isolates, 9 (8.3%) produced carbapenemases, and only 6 of the 22 colistin-resistant CR-ECC isolates (27.3%) harbored the mcr gene. A total of 73 sequence types (STs), including 28 newly identified STs, were detected, demonstrating significant clonal diversity. The most common ST was ST74, known for its high prevalence and association with carbapenem resistance, with 77.8% identified as E. hormaechei subsp. hoffmannii. E. hormaechei was more common in the colistin-susceptible group than in the non-susceptible group (88.0% vs 37.5%, P < 0.0001), and E. hormaechei was the only protective factor for colistin resistance (HR 0.089, CI 0.030–0.261, P < 0.001). Although colistin resistance of CR-ECC is high, colistin could be administered safely to E. hormaechei. It is imperative to maintain ongoing surveillance and to further research on CR-ECC.IMPORTANCEAlthough new antibiotics are being developed, there are still limited options for treating carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CR-ECC) in regions where their use is restricted. The resistance level to one of these options, colistin, was investigated using bacteria isolated from clinical samples. In clinical practice, colistin is frequently administered empirically without susceptibility testing. However, this study suggests that colistin can be safely administered to certain species such as Enterobacter hormaechei within the CR-ECC.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01604-24Enterobacter cloacae complexcarbapenemcolistinantibiotic resistancemolecular epidemiology
spellingShingle Jinyoung Yang
Jin Yang Baek
Jae-Hoon Ko
Kyungmin Huh
Sun Young Cho
Doo Ryeon Chung
Kyong Ran Peck
Hee Jae Huh
Kwan Soo Ko
Cheol-In Kang
Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
Microbiology Spectrum
Enterobacter cloacae complex
carbapenem
colistin
antibiotic resistance
molecular epidemiology
title Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
title_full Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
title_fullStr Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
title_full_unstemmed Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
title_short Clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin-resistant strains among carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
title_sort clinical and microbiological analyses of colistin resistant strains among carbapenem resistant enterobacter cloacae complex clinical isolates
topic Enterobacter cloacae complex
carbapenem
colistin
antibiotic resistance
molecular epidemiology
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01604-24
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