Evaluation of Two Tests for the Rapid Detection of CTX-M Producers Directly in Urine Samples.

Infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing have increased rapidly and are mainly attributed to the production of CTX-M enzymes. This study evaluated the NG-Test CTX-M MULTI lateral flow assay (CTX-M LFA) and the Rapid ESBL NP test (ESBL NP test) for rapid detection of CTX-M-producing Enterobacterales directly in midstream urine (MSU) samples. Testing was performed on 277 clinical MSU samples in a hospital microbiology laboratory from November 2022 to January 2023; 60 of these samples (30 positive for ESBL producers and 30 positive for non-ESBL producers) were tested retrospectively after the identification and susceptibility results were obtained, and 217 samples were tested prospectively immediately after a Gram stain showing the presence of Gram-negative bacilli.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis group organisms in Hong Kong, 2020-2021.

Objectives: This retrospective study analyzed the susceptibility levels of Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) in a hospital-based laboratory where disk diffusion test (DDT) was routinely performed. Isolates non-susceptible to imipenem and metronidazole by DDT were further investigated using a gradient method.

Methods: The DDT and MIC susceptibility data of clindamycin, metronidazole, moxifloxacin and imipenem obtained on Brucella blood agar for 1264 non-duplicated isolates during 2020-2021 were analyzed.

Sharing of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes between Humans and Food Animals.

The prevalence and propagation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are serious global public health concerns. The large and the ever-increasing use of antibiotics in livestock is also considered a great concern. The extent of the similarity of acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) between humans and food animals and the driving factors underlying AMR transfer between them are not clear, although a link between ARGs in both hosts was proposed.

Comprehensive investigation of antibiotic resistance gene content in cfiA-harboring Bacteroides fragilis isolates of human and animal origins by whole genome sequencing.

Introduction: The emergence of multidrug resistance in Bacteroides fragilis, especially the phylogenetic lineage carrying the carbapenemase gene cfiA, represents an increasing threat to human health. However, knowledge on the diversity of the multidrug-resistant strains and the genetic elements carrying the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains limited.

Aim: The objective of the study was to describe the resistome in cfiA-positive B.

Diversity of genomic clusters and CfiA/cfiA alleles in Bacteroides fragilis isolates from human and animals.

Objectives: To compare the phylogeny of cfiA-positive Bacteroides fragilis isolates from diverse human and animal sources.

Method: Complete genome sequences were obtained from 42 cfiA-positive B. fragilis isolates (Hong Kong, 2015-2017) and additional 24 genomes deposited in the GenBank (multiple countries, 1985-2019) were included.

Genomic investigation of a Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 24F strain causing meningoencephalitis in Hong Kong.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) successfully decreased the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in children. However, many countries have reported serotype replacement and a rebound in diseases from non-vaccine serotypes. Here, we report the genomic investigation of a Streptococcus pneumoniae strain M215 that caused severe meningoencephalitis in an infant in 2019.

Improved Detection of -Mediated β-Lactam Resistance in Using a New Oxacillin Salt Agar Screen.

Oxacillin resistance mediated by in is emerging in some geographic areas. We evaluated cefoxitin disk diffusion (DD) and a new oxacillin agar (supplemented with 2 μg/ml oxacillin and 2% sodium chloride) screen for the detection of -mediated resistance in . A total of 300 consecutive, non-duplicated clinical isolates from diverse sources in Hong Kong in 2019 were tested.

Corrigendum: Carbapenemase-producing (CPE) isolated from pigs in China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1099/acmi.ac2019.

Evaluation of disc diffusion tests and agar screening for predicting mecA-mediated oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus lugdunensis revealed a cefoxitin-susceptible, mecA-positive S. lugdunensis clonal complex 27 clone.

Objectives: This study evaluated disc diffusion tests and agar screening for detecting mecA-mediated oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus lugdunensis (S. lugdunensis).

Methods: Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolates (n = 179) from diverse sources in Hong Kong during 1998-2018 were investigated by disc diffusion tests (cefoxitin and oxacillin) and inoculation onto oxacillin (1 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL) and chromID methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agars.

Structures of SCC elements in methicillin-resistant are closely related to those harboured by community-associated methicillin-resistant .

Methicillin-resistant (MRSL) is increasingly recognized in healthcare and community settings. To obtain a better understanding of the emergence of MRSL, this study characterized the structure and content of the SCC elements harboured by 36 MRSL isolates obtained from diverse sources in Hong Kong from 2008 to 2017. The isolates were investigated by whole-genome sequencing.

Genomic investigation of a sequence type 67 Clostridium difficile causing community-acquired fulminant colitis in Hong Kong.

In 2017, we identified a Clostridium difficile strain HKCD4 that caused community-acquired fulminant colitis in a previously healthy child. Phylogenetically, it belonged to clade 2, sequence type 67 and was resistant to fluoroquinolone and tetracycline. The strain was pathogenicity locus and binary toxin positive.

Occurrence of Highly Conjugative IncX3 Epidemic Plasmid Carrying in Isolates in Geographically Widespread Areas.

The emergence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) in common enterobacterial species is a major concern for healthcare. Early reports have revealed that the spread of NDM involved diverse and heterogeneous plasmids. Recently, the involvement of a rare, IncX3 subtype plasmid has been increasingly recognized.

IncX3 Epidemic Plasmid Carrying in Escherichia coli from Swine in Multiple Geographic Areas in China.

Six imported pigs originating from Guangdong, Henan, and Hunan provinces in China during October 2015 to February 2017 were cultured and found to be positive for meropenem-resistant The samples yielded 9 isolates of diverse sequence types carrying on IncX3 (8 isolates from 5 farms) or IncFII (1 isolate from 1 farm) plasmids. The gene was coharbored by 4 isolates. The IncX3 plasmids (∼46 kb) carrying were identical or nearly identical to each other.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis group organisms in Hong Kong by the tentative EUCAST disc diffusion method.

This study used a recently developed EUCAST disc diffusion method to measure the susceptibility of 741 B. fragilis group isolates to six antibiotics. Isolates nonsusceptible to imipenem and metronidazole by the disc method were further investigated by E-test.

Rapid detection of metallo-β-lactamase-producing by the combination of MALDI-TOF MS and CarbaNP.

Aims: Carbapenem resistance in is emerging and is mainly attributed to insertion sequence (IS)-mediated activation of the carbapenemase gene . We investigated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and the CarbaNP assay for the rapid identification of these strains.

Methods: This study used the Bruker MALDI Biotype system and the mass spectra models generated by 20 reference strains (10 -positive and 10 -negative) in the ClinProTools software to identify 404 (71 -positive and 333 -negative) clinical isolates.

A Novel Selective Medium for Isolation of Bacteroides fragilis from Clinical Specimens.

A novel Bacteroides fragilis selective (BFS) medium, consisting of a brain heart infusion agar base supplemented with yeast extract, cysteine hydrochloride, bile salts, vitamin K, hemin, glucose, esculin, ferric ammonium citrate, bromothymol blue, gentamicin, kanamycin, and novobiocin, was evaluated. When BFS agar was tested with a collection of 303 bacteria of different genera, it allowed the growth of B. fragilis as large yellow colonies, with blackening of the medium after 48 h of anaerobic incubation, while the growth of most other anaerobes, facultative anaerobes, and aerobes was inhibited.

IncN ST7 epidemic plasmid carrying blaIMP-4 in Enterobacteriaceae isolates with epidemiological links to multiple geographical areas in China.

Objectives: To characterize bla-carrying plasmids originating from inpatients in Hong Kong.

Methods: Sixteen bla-carrying plasmids identified among Enterobacteriaceae (nine Escherichia coli, four Klebsiella pneumoniae, two Citrobacter freundii and one Enterobacter cloacae) recovered from 15 patients were characterized. The isolates, collected during January 2010 to December 2013, were retrospectively investigated by plasmid sequencing, molecular and fitness studies.

Emergence of ileS2-Carrying, Multidrug-Resistant Plasmids in Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

Of 137 Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolates collected from two nephrology centers in Hong Kong, 10 (7.3%) and 3 (2.2%) isolates had high-level and low-level mupirocin resistance, respectively.

Plasmid-Mediated OqxAB Is an Important Mechanism for Nitrofurantoin Resistance in Escherichia coli.

Increasing consumption of nitrofurantoin (NIT) for treatment of acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) highlights the need to monitor emerging NIT resistance mechanisms. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of the multidrug-resistant efflux gene oqxAB and its contribution to nitrofurantoin resistance by using Escherichia coli isolates originating from patients with UTI (n = 205; collected in 2004 to 2013) and food-producing animals (n = 136; collected in 2012 to 2013) in Hong Kong. The oqxAB gene was highly prevalent among NIT-intermediate (11.

Prevalence and characterization of hybrid blaCTX-M among Escherichia coli isolates from livestock and other animals.

This study investigated 248 extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates from 2012 to 2013 for hybrid blaCTX-M genes. blaCTX-M genes were detected in 228 isolates of which 14 isolates were hybrid blaCTX-M positive (6 blaCTX-M-123, 6 blaCTX-M-64, and 2 blaCTX-M-132). The 14 hybrid blaCTX-M-carrying isolates (8 from chickens, 2 each from pigs and cattle, 1 each from dog and rodent) were genetically diverse.

Clonal diversity of CTX-M-producing, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli from rodents.

This territory-wide study investigated the occurrence of faecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli among wild rodents from the 18 districts in Hong Kong. Individual rectal swabs were obtained from the trapped animals and cultured in plain and selective media. A total of 965 wild rodents [148 chestnut spiny rats (Niviventer fulvescens), 326 Indo-Chinese forest rats (Rattus andamanensis), 452 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and 39 black rats (Rattus rattus)] were sampled.