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Mar 2, 2016Article Details
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Main Article Content
Molecular characterisation and epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of bla<sub>OXA-181</sub> carbapenemaseproducing isolates of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in South Africa
Abstract
Objectives. An investigation was done to determine possible epidemiological links between the case patients and to describe the mechanisms of carbapenem resistance of these bacterial isolates.
Methods. Relevant demographic, clinical and laboratory information was extracted from hospital records and an observational review of infection prevention and control practices in the affected unit was performed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing including phenotypic testing and genotypic detection of the most commonly described carbapenemase genes was done. The phylogenetic relationship of all isolates containing the blaOXA-181 carbapenemase gene was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing.
Results. Polymerase chain reaction analysis identified a total of seven blaOXA-181-positive, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates obtained from seven patients, all from a single unit. These isolates were indistinguishable using PFGE analysis and belonged to sequence type ST-14. No other carbapenemase enzymes were detected.
Conclusion. This is the first documented laboratory-confirmed outbreak of OXA-181-producing K. pneumoniae in SA, and highlights the importance of enforcing strict adherence to infection control procedures and the need for ongoing surveillance of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in local hospitals.
