Multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: risks to food safety and public health

• Published in: European journal of public health Vol. 30; no. Supplement_5
• Main Authors: Cornacchia, A, Di Marzio, V, Ciarrocchi, A, Saletti, M A, Marfoglia, C, Ancora, M, Cammà, C, Di Pasquale, A, Blasi, G, Centorotola, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford Publishing Limited (England) 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Amides; Aminoglycoside antibiotics; Aminoglycosides; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Consumers; Drug resistance; Food; Food consumption; Food safety; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genomes; Gentamicin; Klebsiella; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Milk; Multidrug resistance; Multidrug resistant organisms; Next-generation sequencing; Pathogens; Poultry; Profiles; Public health; Quinolones; Resistance; Safety; Streptomycin; Wastewater; β-Lactam antibiotics
• ISSN: 1101-1262; 1464-360X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.603

Abstract Background Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a Gram-negative hospital-acquired pathogen. Kp also poses a potential food safety hazard, since a significant increase of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Kp was observed in foods. The purpose of this study was to characterize MDR Kp strains in order to evaluate the presence of beta-lactams, quinolones and aminoglycosides resistance genes. Methods A total of 13 Kp strains, isolated from chicken (n.8), raw milk (n.2), waste water (n.2), human faeces (n.1), and identified as MDR by microdilution test, were selected to evaluate antimicrobial resistance profiles, focusing on beta-lactams, quinolones and aminoglycosides. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), with NextSeq 500 Illumina platform, was performed to acquire genome sequences. The antimicrobial resistance profiles were obtained using ResFinder (https://cge.cbs.dtu.dk/services/ResFinder/). Results From the 13 Kp considered, 6 strains (46.2 %) showed the presence of several beta-lactam genes. The blaSHV gene was carried by 12 Kp (92.3%); of these strains, 5 also carried blaTEM (41.7%) and 3 also blaCTX-M (25.0%) genes. Only 1 Kp strain showed the presence of blaOKP-A gene. All the 13 Kp carried the oqxA and oqxB genes. Of these strains, 4 also highlighted the presence of qnrB or qnrS plasmid-mediated gene for quinolone resistance. Regarding aminoglycoside resistance, 6 Kp strains (46.2%) carried aph, aadA and aaC genes, linked to gentamicin and streptomycin resistance protein. Conclusions These preliminary results emphasize the need of further studies on more several samples, to better understand the antimicrobial resistance of Kp strains, the hypothetical transmission of MDR Kp from foods to consumers and the potential risk posed to food safety, environmental and public health. Key messages The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae requires the need to investigate more foods and environmental samples to ensure consumer safety and public health. Public health safety requires a major knowledge of the hypothetical mechanisms and routes of transmission of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.