Whole-genome sequencing to explore nosocomial transmission and virulence in neonatal methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Abstract

Background: Neonatal Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteremia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In this study, we examined whether methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) transmission and genetic makeup contribute to the occurrence of neonatal S. aureus bacteremia. Methods: A retrospective, single-centre study was performed. All patients were included who suffered from S. aureus bacteremia in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between January 2011 and November 2017. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize the S. aureus isolates, as was also done in comparison to reference genomes. Transmission was considered likely in case of genetically indistinguishable S. aureus isolates. Results: Excluding coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), S. aureus was the most common cause of neonatal bacteremia. Twelve percent (n = 112) of all 926 positive blood cultures from neonates grew S. aureus. Based on core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), 12 clusters of genetically indistinguishable MSSA isolates were found, containing 33 isolates in total (2-4 isolates per cluster). In seven of these clusters, at least two of the identified MSSA isolates were collected within a time period of one month. Six virulence genes were present in 98-100% of all MSSA isolates. In comparison to S. aureus reference genomes, toxin genes encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin A (sea) and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tsst-1) were present more often in the genomes of bacteremia isolates. Conclusion: Transmission of MSSA is a contributing factor to the occurrence of S. aureus bacteremia in neonates. Sea and tsst-1 might play a role in neonatal S. aureus bacteremia.

The Prevalence of Microorganisms and Antibiotics Activity Tests of Natural and Industrial Products in Surgical Site Infections in Referral Hospitals in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region – Iraq

“…In hospitals, neonatal infections, operative care for the elderly and malnutrition, and individuals with diabetes and other chronic diseases, S. aureus is an important source of infection. [26] The minimal number of S. aureus sensitivity found in the results of this investigation against TE and C was compatible with studies published in Eritrea by certain Nigerian employees. [27,28] Sensitivity to RF, TE, NET, and the other antibiotics resistance for S. aureus such as C, OX, CRO, IPM, CAZ, APX, and CRO did not match the findings of Chowdhury et al, [29] however, resistance to other antibiotics did.…”

Covid-19 Pandemic: What Changes for Dentists and Oral Medicine Experts? A Narrative Review and Novel Approaches to Infection Containment

“…Staphylococcus Aureus is an important agent involved in nosocomial infections. This bacterium causes a wide range of diseases that can be mild or life-threatening (e.g., bacteraemia, pneumonia, and surgical site infection [111]). In addition, S. Aureus can easily have antimicrobial resistance.…”

Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in infants in a neonatal intensive care unit

“…24 In a neonatal MSSA bacteremia study, cgMLST was able to distinguish outbreak-related isolates from the other isolates of the same sequence type by classical MLST. 40 This study has several limitations. Cultures from the hospital environment and surveillance of healthcare workers were not performed, so we were unable to determine whether MSSA from infants in different rooms or in the same rooms during nonoverlapping periods of hospitalization was acquired through horizontal transmission.…”

“…Over the 1-year study period (May 2018 to May 2019), 68 MSSAcolonized infant cases were detected. The median (range) gestational age and birth weight were 28 weeks (range, [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] and 985 grams (range, 360-4,280), respectively. The proportions of infants born via vaginal delivery, and infants with central venous catheters were 39.7% and 52.9%, respectively.…”