Genetic characterization of plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone efflux pump QepA among ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolates in Mexico.
Josefina Duran-BedollaUlises Garza-RamosJesús Silva-SánchezLuis LozanoFernando Reyna-FloresAlejandro Sánchez-PérezHumberto Barrios-Camachonull nullPublished in: Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] (2023)
Antimicrobial resistance is a major global public health problem, with fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of Escherichia coli posing a significant threat. This study examines the genetic characterization of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates in Mexican hospitals, which are resistant to both cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. A total of 23 ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were found to be positive for the qepA gene, which confers resistance to fluoroquinolones. These isolates exhibited drug resistance phenotypes and belonged to specific sequence types and phylogenetic groups. The genetic context of the qepA gene was identified in a novel genetic context flanked by IS26 sequences. Mating experiments showed the co-transfer of qepA1 and chrA determinants alongside bla CTX-M-15 genes, emphasizing the potential for these genetic structures to spread among Enterobacterales. The emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria carrying these resistance genes is a significant clinical concern for public healthcare systems.
Keyphrases
- escherichia coli
- genome wide
- klebsiella pneumoniae
- healthcare
- copy number
- antimicrobial resistance
- genetic diversity
- public health
- multidrug resistant
- genome wide identification
- dna methylation
- biofilm formation
- genome wide analysis
- high resolution
- mental health
- emergency department
- transcription factor
- mass spectrometry
- bioinformatics analysis
- gene expression
- staphylococcus aureus
- health insurance
- health information