The characterization of ESBL genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections in Vietnam

Authors

  • Nguyen Hoang Thu Trang Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Tran Vu Thieu Nga Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City
  • James I Campbell Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City
  • Nguyen Trong Hiep Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.
  • Jeremy Farrar Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City
  • Stephen Baker Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City
  • Pham Thanh Duy Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.2938

Keywords:

Enterobacteriacea, Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, ESBL-encoding genes, Plasmid-mediated resistance, antimicrobials

Abstract

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes capable of hydrolyzing oxyimino-β-lactams and inducing resistance to third generation cephalosporins. The genes encoding ESBLs are widespread and generally located on highly transmissible resistance plasmids. We aimed to investigate the complement of ESBL genes in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections in hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Methodology: Thirty-two non-duplicate isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections, isolated between March and June 2010, were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All isolates were PCR-amplified to detect the blaSHV, blaTEM and blaCTX-M ESBL genes and subjected to plasmid analysis.

Results: We found that co-resistance to multiple antimicrobials was highly prevalent, and we report the predominance of the blaCTX-M-15 and blaCTX-M-27 genes, located on highly transmissible plasmids ranging from 50 to 170 kb in size.

Conclusions: Our study represents a snap shot of ESBL-producing enteric bacteria causing nosocomial infections in this setting. We suggest that antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae is rampant in Vietnam and ESBL organisms are widespread. In view of these data and the dramatic levels of antimicrobial resistance reported in Vietnam we advocate an urgent review of antimicrobial use in the Vietnamese healthcare system.

Author Biographies

Nguyen Hoang Thu Trang, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.

Master of Science in GeneticsDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City

Tran Vu Thieu Nga, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Master of science in BiochemistryOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam

James I Campbell, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Expert in MicrobiologyOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Nguyen Trong Hiep, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.

PhD in PharmacologyDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City.

Jeremy Farrar, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Director of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Viet Nam

Stephen Baker, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Expert in Genetic epidemiologyOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Pham Thanh Duy, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho chi Minh City

Master of science in microbiologyOxford University Clinical Research Unit, Vietnam

Downloads

Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

1.
Trang NHT, Nga TVT, Campbell JI, Hiep NT, Farrar J, Baker S, Duy PT (2013) The characterization of ESBL genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae causing nosocomial infections in Vietnam. J Infect Dev Ctries 7:922–928. doi: 10.3855/jidc.2938

Issue

Section

Original Articles