Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing
Abstract Background We analyzed an outbreak of Bacillus cereus group (Bcg) at a single-center neonatal intensive care unit level IV by conducting comprehensive sampling of both patients and the environment. Methods Between 06/2020 and 10/2021, all Bcg isolates identified by both regular colonization...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01359-0 |
| _version_ | 1797362864158146560 |
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| author | Hauke Tönnies Axel Heep Jörg Herrmann Matthias Lange Alexander Mellmann Axel Hamprecht |
| author_facet | Hauke Tönnies Axel Heep Jörg Herrmann Matthias Lange Alexander Mellmann Axel Hamprecht |
| author_sort | Hauke Tönnies |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background We analyzed an outbreak of Bacillus cereus group (Bcg) at a single-center neonatal intensive care unit level IV by conducting comprehensive sampling of both patients and the environment. Methods Between 06/2020 and 10/2021, all Bcg isolates identified by both regular colonization screening and additional sampling of the environment were subjected to whole-genome sequencing, followed by in vitro extraction of MLST ST, resistance genes and virulence factors. Using publicly available genome sequences, we defined an ad hoc core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme comprising 2759 target genes for Bcg typing, which we applied to the detected isolates. We have compared the results with a stable cgMLST that was published in the meantime and completed the investigation with a SNP analysis. Results We analyzed 28 Bcg isolates from patient and environmental samples using MLST and cgMLST. This revealed multiple sequence types, with ST127 being the most common (n = 13). Both cgMLST schemes grouped ten of the 13 ST127 isolates into a cluster, including two invasive isolates from two different patients and several environmental samples. SNP analysis postulated a screen from a ventilation machine as a possible reservoir. Conclusion In sensitive settings such as neonatal intensive care units, considering the environment in outbreak analyses is crucial, especially when investigating potential transmission routes through shared devices. When dealing with widespread bacteria such as Bcg, high-resolution typing techniques are necessary. In this study, we successfully resolved an outbreak of Bcg infections using a custom cgMLST scheme combined with a SNP analysis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:13:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1134167e8ad4b6daa0847679c5994ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:13:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1134167e8ad4b6daa0847679c5994ef2024-01-07T12:47:35ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942024-01-0113111110.1186/s13756-023-01359-0Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typingHauke Tönnies0Axel Heep1Jörg Herrmann2Matthias Lange3Alexander Mellmann4Axel Hamprecht5Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital MünsterDepartment of Pediatrics, Elisabeth Children’s Hospital, University of OldenburgInstitute of Hygiene, University Hospital OldenburgDepartment of Pediatrics, Elisabeth Children’s Hospital, University of OldenburgInstitute of Hygiene, University Hospital MünsterInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital OldenburgAbstract Background We analyzed an outbreak of Bacillus cereus group (Bcg) at a single-center neonatal intensive care unit level IV by conducting comprehensive sampling of both patients and the environment. Methods Between 06/2020 and 10/2021, all Bcg isolates identified by both regular colonization screening and additional sampling of the environment were subjected to whole-genome sequencing, followed by in vitro extraction of MLST ST, resistance genes and virulence factors. Using publicly available genome sequences, we defined an ad hoc core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) scheme comprising 2759 target genes for Bcg typing, which we applied to the detected isolates. We have compared the results with a stable cgMLST that was published in the meantime and completed the investigation with a SNP analysis. Results We analyzed 28 Bcg isolates from patient and environmental samples using MLST and cgMLST. This revealed multiple sequence types, with ST127 being the most common (n = 13). Both cgMLST schemes grouped ten of the 13 ST127 isolates into a cluster, including two invasive isolates from two different patients and several environmental samples. SNP analysis postulated a screen from a ventilation machine as a possible reservoir. Conclusion In sensitive settings such as neonatal intensive care units, considering the environment in outbreak analyses is crucial, especially when investigating potential transmission routes through shared devices. When dealing with widespread bacteria such as Bcg, high-resolution typing techniques are necessary. In this study, we successfully resolved an outbreak of Bcg infections using a custom cgMLST scheme combined with a SNP analysis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01359-0Bacillus cereusBacillus cereus groupOutbreakcgMLSTWGS |
| spellingShingle | Hauke Tönnies Axel Heep Jörg Herrmann Matthias Lange Alexander Mellmann Axel Hamprecht Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Bacillus cereus Bacillus cereus group Outbreak cgMLST WGS |
| title | Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| title_full | Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| title_fullStr | Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| title_short | Investigating environmental transmission to resolve a Bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| title_sort | investigating environmental transmission to resolve a bacillus cereus group outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit using core genome multilocus sequence typing |
| topic | Bacillus cereus Bacillus cereus group Outbreak cgMLST WGS |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-023-01359-0 |
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