Survey of US wastewater for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

• Published in: Journal of water and health Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 219 - 226
• Main Authors: Hoelle, Jill, Johnson, James R, Johnston, Brian D, Kinkle, Brian, Boczek, Laura, Ryu, Hodon, Hayes, Sam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IWA Publishing 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; beta-Lactamases; Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae - growth & development; Carbapenemase; Cefotaxime; Ceftazidime; Ciprofloxacin; Clarifiers; CRE bacteria; Disease control; Disease prevention; Dispersal; Dispersion; Drug resistance; E coli; Effluents; Enterobacteriaceae; Escherichia coli; Genes; Humans; Imipenem; Microbiological strains; Nosocomial infections; Polls & surveys; Polymerase chain reaction; Selective media; Surveillance; Surveying; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; Waste Water - microbiology; Wastewater treatment; Water Microbiology; Water treatment; β Lactamase; United States; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 1477-8920; 1996-7829
• DOI: 10.2166/wh.2019.165

A survey for antibiotic-resistant (AR) Escherichia coli in wastewater was undertaken by collecting samples from primary clarifiers and secondary effluents from seven geographically dispersed US wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Samples were collected at each WWTP in cool and summer months and cultured using selective media. The resulting isolates were characterized for resistance to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime, presence of carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, and phylogroups and sequence types (STs). In total, 322 AR E. coli isolates were identified, of which 65 were imipenem-resistant. Of the 65 carbapenem-resistant E. coli (CREC) isolates, 62% were positive for more than one and 31% were positive for two or more of carbapenemase and ESBL genes targeted. The most commonly detected carbapenemase gene was bla (n = 36), followed by bla (n = 2). A widespread dispersal of carbapenem-resistant STs and other clinically significant AR STs observed in the present study suggested the plausible release of these strains into the environment. The occurrence of CREC in wastewater is a potential concern because this matrix may serve as a reservoir for gene exchange and thereby increase the risk of AR bacteria (including CR) being disseminated into the environment and thence back to humans.