High Genetic Diversity in Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant in Wastewater Systems of Schleswig-Holstein

Overview

Journal Pathogens

Date 2024 Jan 26

PMID 38276163

Authors

Laura Carlsen

Matthias Grottker

Malika Heim

Birte Knobling

Sebastian Schlauss

Kai Wellbrock

Johannes K Knobloch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria from humans or livestock is a critical issue. However, the epidemiology of resistant pathogens across wastewater pathways is poorly understood. Therefore, we performed a detailed comparison of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCREC) from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to analyze dissemination pathways. A total of 172 3GCREC isolated from four WWTPs were characterized via whole genome sequencing. Clonal relatedness was determined using multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core genome MLST. Resistance genotypes and plasmid replicons were determined. A total of 68 MLST sequence types were observed with 28 closely related clusters. Resistance genes to eight antibiotic classes were detected. In fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates, resistance was associated with three-or-more point mutations in target genes. Typing revealed high genetic diversity with only a few clonal lineages present in all WWTPs. The distribution paths of individual lines could only be traced in exceptional cases with a lack of enrichment of certain lineages. Varying resistance genes and plasmids, as well as fluoroquinolone resistance-associated point mutations in individual isolates, further corroborated the high diversity of 3GCREC in WWTPs. In total, we observed high diversity of 3GCREC inside the tested WWTPs with proof of resistant strains being released into the environment even after treatment processes.

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