Faecal shedding of CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli in horses receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis after hospital admission.
Abstract: The objective of this longitudinal study was to investigate the occurrence and genetic background of faecal Escherichia coli resistant to cefotaxime (CTX) in horses receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis after admission to a veterinary teaching hospital. The ten horses enrolled in the study were treated with cefquinome either alone (n=4) or in combination with metronidazole (n=3) or other antimicrobial agents (n=3). CTX-resistant coliforms in faeces collected before, during and after treatment were quantified on selective MacConkey agar supplemented with CTX, and a colony isolated randomly from each positive sample was characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and by PCR detection and sequencing of bla(TEM), bla(SHV), bla(CTX-M) and bla(CMY). All horses were negative for CTX-resistant coliforms at admission but became positive within the first three days of treatment. The average faecal densities of CTX-resistant coliforms increased significantly following antimicrobial prophylaxis (P<0.001). Genetic characterization of 29 faecal isolates revealed that this effect was due to proliferation of E. coli producing either CTX-M-1 (n=28) or CTX-M-14 (n=1). Five CTX-M-1 isolates produced additional β-lactamases (TEM-1, CMY-34 and the novel variant CMY-53). Shedding of CTX-M-producing E. coli appeared intermittent in four horses and persisted two weeks after antimicrobial treatments in five of six patients tested after discharge from hospital. Nosocomial transmission was suggested by finding five identical CTX-M-1-producing E. coli pulsotypes in multiple horses. The originality of the study lies in the unanticipated high frequency and genetic diversity of CTX-M-producing E. coli observed in the faecal flora of hospitalized patients receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-07-14 PubMed ID: 21820821DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.07.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the occurrence and genetic background of resistant bacteria in horses under broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment. Significant increase in faecal densities of these drug-resistant bacteria was observed, potentially suggestive of hospital-acquired transmission.
Study Purpose and Methods
- The goal of this research was to understand the occurrence and genetic characteristics of a specific type of bacteria (Escherichia coli resistant to cefotaxime or CTX) found in the faeces of horses undergoing broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment after being admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital.
- The study consisted of 10 horses, with various combinations of treatment methods using different antimicrobial agents. The bacteria levels in their faeces were examined before, during, and after treatment.
- The researchers used various scientific procedures such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and PCR detection to characterize colonies of bacteria isolated from the faecal samples.
Key Findings
- All horses, which initially tested negative for CTX-resistant bacteria, became positive within three days of treatment. Notably, the average quantity of CTX-resistant bacteria in the faeces significantly increased after antimicrobial prophylaxis (preventative treatment).
- It was found out that the surge was predominantly due to the proliferation of two variants of E. coli. Five of these isolates also generated additional β-lactamases, enzymes that attribute to antibiotic resistance.
- An important discovery was the intermittent appearance and persistence of these CTX-M-producing E. coli in four horses, which continued two weeks after the antibiotic treatment had ended for five out of six horses tested post-discharge from the hospital.
- The study identified five identical drug-resistant bacteria variants in multiple horses, implying a possible nosocomial (hospital-acquired) transmission.
Significance of the Study
- The most striking aspect of this study was the unexpected high frequency and diversity of resistant E. coli found in the faecal material of horses subjected to wide-ranging antimicrobial prophylaxis in a hospital setting.
- The results of this research can be beneficial in developing guidelines for the administration of antimicrobials, understanding the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine and improving infection control measures in veterinary hospitals to prevent nosocomial transmission of resistant bacteria.
Cite This Article
APA
Damborg P, Marskar P, Baptiste KE, Guardabassi L.
(2011).
Faecal shedding of CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli in horses receiving broad-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis after hospital admission.
Vet Microbiol, 154(3-4), 298-304.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.07.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Stigbøjlen 4, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C 1870, Denmark. peda@life.ku.dk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Antibiotic Prophylaxis / veterinary
- Cefotaxime / metabolism
- Cefotaxime / therapeutic use
- Cephalosporins / therapeutic use
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Escherichia coli / genetics
- Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
- Escherichia coli / metabolism
- Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Horses / microbiology
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- beta-Lactamases / metabolism
Citations
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