Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections

Identification of antimicrobial resistance markers in urinary tract infections could provide a more targeted approach in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs while reducing overall public health burdens. We describe a molecular assay as a diagnostic tool for antibiotic resistance characterization to...

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Main Authors: Mohammed Harris, Tracy Fasolino, Nicole J. Davis, Diana Ivankovic, Noel Brownlee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Microbiology Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/2/41
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author Mohammed Harris
Tracy Fasolino
Nicole J. Davis
Diana Ivankovic
Noel Brownlee
author_facet Mohammed Harris
Tracy Fasolino
Nicole J. Davis
Diana Ivankovic
Noel Brownlee
author_sort Mohammed Harris
collection DOAJ
description Identification of antimicrobial resistance markers in urinary tract infections could provide a more targeted approach in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs while reducing overall public health burdens. We describe a molecular assay as a diagnostic tool for antibiotic resistance characterization to promote faster diagnosis of antibiotic regimens compared to standard microbiology techniques. Targeted antibiotic usage for pathogenic infections remains a main goal for effective antibiotic treatment protocols and reducing the overall public health burden. Rapid identification of the pathogen(s) causing the infection and harboring the antibiotic resistance gene is also a main area of exploration for antibiotic appropriation and stewardship. Urinary tract infections are a common clinical disease and reservoir for pathogenic infection and the development of antibiotic resistance, especially in hospital- and community-acquired settings. Standard methods require urine culture, which is time consuming and relies on phenotypic characterization. A genetic diagnostic method is warranted for the rapid molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance genes to reduce inappropriate exposure to antibiotics while improving the overall treatment model for urinary tract infections. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate logical viability for real-time molecular diagnostics for early identification, active surveillance and overall targeted antibiotic stratification that is proposed as an in vitro rapid and comprehensive tool for assessing proper antibiotic stewardship in UTIs. Here, we describe a multiplex real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for probe-based detection of the top 24 antibiotic resistance genes with targeted relationships to target molecular drug classes and administered antibiotics. Multiplexed analysis based on molecular features enables rapid testing while shifting the diagnostic detection paradigm from monocentric infections towards polymicrobial infections. We utilized 366 samples from the FDA-CDC Antimicrobial Resistance Isolate Bank to test the efficacy of the assay and propose a model to infer the identity of bacterial isolates. We found that, in addition to a high level of accuracy in predicting bacterial genus classification, the assay was mostly in agreement with CDC-tested genotypic and phenotypic results. This study provides evidence for using genetic diagnostic methods, such as multiplex qPCR, in the rapid identification of antibiotic resistance (ABR) genes for the characterization and treatment of urinary tract infections.
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spelling doaj.art-8cc02cb9e3ea4f1caabd442e71c871362023-11-18T11:38:06ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812023-04-0114259160210.3390/microbiolres14020041Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract InfectionsMohammed Harris0Tracy Fasolino1Nicole J. Davis2Diana Ivankovic3Noel Brownlee4Department of Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USADepartment of Healthcare Genetics and Genomics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USAIdentification of antimicrobial resistance markers in urinary tract infections could provide a more targeted approach in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs while reducing overall public health burdens. We describe a molecular assay as a diagnostic tool for antibiotic resistance characterization to promote faster diagnosis of antibiotic regimens compared to standard microbiology techniques. Targeted antibiotic usage for pathogenic infections remains a main goal for effective antibiotic treatment protocols and reducing the overall public health burden. Rapid identification of the pathogen(s) causing the infection and harboring the antibiotic resistance gene is also a main area of exploration for antibiotic appropriation and stewardship. Urinary tract infections are a common clinical disease and reservoir for pathogenic infection and the development of antibiotic resistance, especially in hospital- and community-acquired settings. Standard methods require urine culture, which is time consuming and relies on phenotypic characterization. A genetic diagnostic method is warranted for the rapid molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance genes to reduce inappropriate exposure to antibiotics while improving the overall treatment model for urinary tract infections. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate logical viability for real-time molecular diagnostics for early identification, active surveillance and overall targeted antibiotic stratification that is proposed as an in vitro rapid and comprehensive tool for assessing proper antibiotic stewardship in UTIs. Here, we describe a multiplex real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for probe-based detection of the top 24 antibiotic resistance genes with targeted relationships to target molecular drug classes and administered antibiotics. Multiplexed analysis based on molecular features enables rapid testing while shifting the diagnostic detection paradigm from monocentric infections towards polymicrobial infections. We utilized 366 samples from the FDA-CDC Antimicrobial Resistance Isolate Bank to test the efficacy of the assay and propose a model to infer the identity of bacterial isolates. We found that, in addition to a high level of accuracy in predicting bacterial genus classification, the assay was mostly in agreement with CDC-tested genotypic and phenotypic results. This study provides evidence for using genetic diagnostic methods, such as multiplex qPCR, in the rapid identification of antibiotic resistance (ABR) genes for the characterization and treatment of urinary tract infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/2/41antibiotic resistanceurinary tract infectionsmultiplex PCRpathogen detectionmolecular diagnosticsantibiotic stewardship
spellingShingle Mohammed Harris
Tracy Fasolino
Nicole J. Davis
Diana Ivankovic
Noel Brownlee
Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
Microbiology Research
antibiotic resistance
urinary tract infections
multiplex PCR
pathogen detection
molecular diagnostics
antibiotic stewardship
title Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
title_full Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
title_fullStr Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
title_full_unstemmed Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
title_short Multiplex Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes for Rapid Antibiotic Guidance of Urinary Tract Infections
title_sort multiplex detection of antimicrobial resistance genes for rapid antibiotic guidance of urinary tract infections
topic antibiotic resistance
urinary tract infections
multiplex PCR
pathogen detection
molecular diagnostics
antibiotic stewardship
url https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/2/41
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