Occurrence of macrolides resistance in Legionella pneumophila ST188: results of the Belgian epidemiology and resistome investigation of clinical isolates.

Introduction: The incidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD) steadily increases worldwide. Although Legionella pneumophila is known as pathogenic, systematic investigations into antibiotic resistance are scarce, and reports of resistance in isolates are recently emerging.

Methods: Clinical cases and metadata reported to the Belgian National Reference Centre between 2011 and 2022 were retrospectively analysed.

Comparison of whole genome sequencing typing tools for the typing of Belgian Legionella pneumophila outbreaks isolates.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) marks a turning point for outbreak investigations for microorganisms related to public health matters, like Legionella pneumophila (Lp). Here, we evaluated the available Lp WGS typing tools for isolates of previously documented Belgian outbreaks, as well as small groups of related and non-related isolates. One reference strain and 77 clinical and environmental isolates were evaluated.

Uncovering Gaps in Knowledge: A Survey of Belgian General Practitioners' Awareness of Legionnaires' Disease Diagnostic Testing.

The incidence of Legionnaires' disease (LD) is increasing steadily in Europe. Its early diagnosis by general practitioners (GPs) is crucial for better patient outcomes. This study assessed Belgian GPs' knowledge about LD and the accessibility of diagnostic tests in their practices.

From Investigating a Case of Cellulitis to Exploring Nosocomial Infection Control of ST1 Using Genomic Approaches.

can cause a large panel of symptoms besides the classic pneumonia presentation. Here we present a case of fatal nosocomial cellulitis in an immunocompromised patient followed, a year later, by a second case of Legionnaires' disease in the same ward. While the first case was easily assumed as nosocomial based on the date of symptom onset, the second case required clear typing results to be assigned either as nosocomial and related to the same environmental source as the first case, or community acquired.

Multiple interspecies recombination events documented by whole-genome sequencing in multidrug-resistant clinical isolates.

Introduction: () was long known as an easy-to-treat bacterium, but increasing resistance against beta-lactams and other critically important antibiotics is now a growing concern. We describe here the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of three non-typeable isolates received in 2018-2019 by the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) for , as they presented an unusual multi-resistant profile.

Methods: All three isolates were sequenced by WGS and mapped to the reference isolate Rd KW20.