Background Sepsis is a major contributor to neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). WHO advocates ampicillin-gentamicin as first-line therapy for the management of neonatal sepsis. In the BARNARDS observational cohort study of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in LMICs, common sepsis pathogens were characterised via whole genome sequencing (WGS) and antimicrobial resistance profiles. In this substudy of BARNARDS, we aimed to assess the use and efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapies commonly used in LMICs for neonatal sepsis.Methods In BARNARDS, consenting mother-neonates aged 0-60 days dyads were enrolled on delivery or neonatal presentation with suspected sepsis at 12 BARNARDS clinical sites in

Introduction: New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamse-1 (NDM-1) producing superbugs create a global public health problem because of their resistance to most antibiotics. This study was conducted to determine the presence of MBL producers, including NDM-1 producers, in Bangladesh, along with the antimicrobial resistance patterns of these organisms. Methodology: Thirty-five isolates resistant to imipenem by disk diffusion technique were investigated for MBL production. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of imipenem was determined by agar dilution method. MBL producers were phenotypically detected by double disk synergy test and combined disk assay. Gene encoding blaIMP-1, blaIMP-2, blaVIM-1, blaVIM-2, blaNDM-1 and class 1 integron was identified by PCR. Results: Thirty-one (88.57%) MBL producers were detected by PCR, 24 (68.57%) by double disk synergy test, and 30 (85.71%) by combined disk assay. Eight (22.86%) were positive for blaNDM-1, 13 (37.15%) for blaVIM-1, 21 (60.00%) for blaVIM-2, 18 (51.43%) for blaIMP-1, and 9 (25.71%) for blaIMP-2. More than one blaMBL was present in 23 (65.71%) of the isolates. MIC of imipenem of MBL producers ranged from ≥256 µg/ml to ≤8 µg/ml. All the NDM-1 producing isolates carried class 1 integron. NDM-1 producers were 100% resistant to amoxicillin, cephradine, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, aztreonam, gentamicin and piperacillin, 87.5% to amikacin, 75% to ciprofloxacin, and 62.5% to co-trimoxazole and the combination of tazobactam and piperacillin. All were sensitive to colistin. Conclusion: The results of this study provide insight into the presence of blaMBL, including blaNDM-1, in Bangladesh. Urgent epidemiological monitoring of MBL producers in Bangladesh may combat their rapid dissemination.

The emergence of mobilized colistin resistance genes (mcr) has become a serious concern in clinical practice, compromising treatment options for life-threatening infections. In this study, colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae harboring mcr-8.1 was recovered from infected patients in the largest public hospital of Bangladesh, with a prevalence of 0.3% (3/1,097). We found mcr-8.1 in an identical highly stable multidrug-resistant IncFIB(pQil) plasmid of ∼113 kb, which belonged to an epidemiologically successful K. pneumoniae clone, ST15. The resistance mechanism was proven to be horizontally transferable, which incurred a fitness cost to the host. The core genome phylogeny suggested the clonal spread of mcr-8.1 in a Bangladeshi hospital. Core genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms among the mcr-8.1-positive K. pneumoniae isolates ranged from 23 to 110. It has been hypothesized that mcr-8.1 was inserted into IncFIB(pQil) with preexisting resistance loci, blaTEM-1b and blaCTX-M-15, by IS903B. Coincidentally, all resistance determinants in the plasmid [mcr-8.1, ampC, sul2, 1d-APH(6), APH(3′′)-Ib, blaTEM-1b, blaCTX-M-15] were bracketed by IS903B, demonstrating the possibility of intra- and interspecies and intra- and intergenus transposition of entire resistance loci. This is the first report of an mcr-like mechanism from human infections in Bangladesh. However, given the acquisition of mcr-8.1 by a sable conjugative plasmid in a successful high-risk clone of K. pneumoniae ST15, there is a serious risk of dissemination of mcr-8.1 in Bangladesh from 2017 onwards. IMPORTANCE There is a marked paucity in our understanding of the epidemiology of colistin-resistant bacterial pathogens in South Asia. A report by Davies and Walsh (Lancet Infect Dis 18:256–257, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30072-0, 2018) suggests the export of colistin from China to India, Vietnam, and South Korea in 2016 was approximately 1,000 tons and mainly used as a poultry feed additive. A few reports forecast that the prevalence of mcr in humans and livestock will increase in South Asia. Given the high prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 and blaNDM in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, colistin has become the invariable option for the management of serious infections, leading to the emergence of mcr-like mechanisms in South Asia. Systematic scrutiny of the prevalence and transmission of mcr variants in South Asia is vital to understanding the drivers of mcr genes and to initiate interventions to overcome colistin resistance.

We report an outbreak by MDR K. variicola clone (ST771) in a Bangladeshi neonatal unit from October, 2016 to January, 2017, associated with high mortality (54.5%). During the outbreak, K. variicola ST771 acquired MDR plasmid harbouring blaNDM-1, linked to high exposure to ceftriaxone and amikacin in the NICU of DMCH.

This study was designed to investigate the resistance profile along with the genetic background of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics among the nosocomial A. baumannii in Bangladesh. A. baumannii was confirmed by detecting blaOXA-51-like. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method. Agar dilution method was used to determine MIC of ceftazidime and imipenem. All A. baumannii were phenotypically screened for ampC, ESBL and MBL production. Genetic markers of antibiotic resistance such as blaampC, blaOXA-51, 23, 40, 58 and 143, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM and blaNDM-1, genetic environment around blaADC and ISAba1 upstream of blaOXAs were evaluated by PCR. Twenty-four (96%) A. baumannii were considered as MDR. 96% A. baumannii were resistant to amoxiclav, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and cefoxitin, 92% to cefotaxime and piperacillin-tazobactam, 88% to cefepime, amikacin and imipenem, 52% to sulbactamcefoperazone and 40% were resistant to aztreonam. All were sensitive to colistin. The distribution of several beta-lactamase genes such as blaOXA-51 (100%), blaADC-like (92%), blaNDM-1 (92%), EBC group (84%), blaOXA-23 (76%), blaVIM (72%), blaKPC (44%), DHA group (24%), blaOXA-58 (16%), ACC group (8%) and CIT group (4%) were observed among the 25 A. baumannii. This is the first reported plasmid mediated ampC beta-lactamases in A. baumannii. blaOXA-51 was positive in 100%, blaNDM-1 in 95.45%, blaOXA-23 in 77.27%, blaVIM in 72.73%, blaKPC in 50% and blaOXA-58 in 18.18% of imipenem resistant isolates. MDR profile of nosocomial A. baumannii would highlight the importance of standard guideline of antimicrobials use and infection control policy in the hospitals of Bangladesh.

Background Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of serious pathogens in cystic fibrosis patients and causes life threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Species within the Bcc are widely distributed within the environment, can survive in the presence of disinfectants and antiseptics, and are inherently multidrug resistant (MDR). Methods Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) patients with a B. cepacia positive blood culture between 20 October 2016 to 23 rd September 2017 were considered as outbreak cases. Blood stream infections (BSIs) were detected using BacT/ALERT 3D at DMCH. B. cepacia was isolated on chromogenic UTI media followed by MALDI-TOF. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of clinically relevant antibiotics was determined by agar dilution. Whole genome sequencing was performed on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Patients' demographic and clinical data were collected. Patients' clinical history and genomic data of the outbreak strains were merged to investigate possible outbreaks. Ninety-one B. cepacia genomes were downloaded from 'Burkholderia Genome Database' and the genomic background of the global strains were compared with our outbreak strains. Results Among 236 BSIs, 6.35% (15/236) were B. cepacia. Outbreak cases were confined to the burn critical care unit and, to a lesser extent, the paediatrics department. There was a continuum of overlapping cases at DMCH between 23 October 2016 to 30 August 2017. Core genome SNPs showed that the outbreak strains were confined to a single clade, corresponded to a common clone (ST1578). The strains were shown to be MDR and associated with a mortality of 31% excluding discharge against medical advice. MIC profiles of the PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES

Introduction: The emergence of plasmid mediated mcr in bacteria has become global public health threat. Herein, we report a mcr-1 positive E. coli in normal human flora from a patient admitted in Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Methodology: In total, 700 non-duplicate rectal swabs were collected from DMCH during 13th May to 12th June 2018. E. coli from rectal swabs were isolated on chromogenic UTI media containing vancomycin 10mg/l (Liofilchem, Italy) and confirmed by MALDI-TOF. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined by agar dilution and interpreted according to EUCAST breakpoints. Genomic analysis of mcr positive E. coli (MCRPEC) was performed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using S1 nuclease DNA digests and blamcr-1 probing. Transferability of blamcr-1 were determined by conjugation assays. Results: We found one MCRPEC from 700 rectal swab screening which was isolated from the rectal swab culture of a 17-year boy who was admitted to the burns ICU, DMCH with 53% flame burn involving much of the trunk and face. Genome sequencing revealed that mcr-1 was present on an IncH12 plasmid of 257,243 bp and flanked by ISApaI1. The colistin resistance can be transferred to the recipient Klebsiella varricola with a frequency of 8.3 × 10-5. Transconjugants were more resistant to colistin than donor (MIC 32 µg/mL). Conclusions: This is the first human associated mcr in Bangladesh. These data indicate the need for a systematic “one health” surveillance in the country.

Background: Multi-drug resistance among the pathogenic bacteria poses a serious threat to public health. Nanoparticles are one of the most effective therapeutic agents. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are well known antimicrobial agents and are regarded as nontoxic and bio-safe. The present study aims to investigate the antimicrobial effect of ZnO NPs against the bacterial strains i.e. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Escherichia coli (E.coli).