Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Molecular Epidemiology and AMR Perspective of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) persistently challenges public health in Africa, contributing substantially to the diarrhoeal disease burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis illuminate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of DEC pathotypes across the continent.

Methods: The review selectively focused on pathotype-specific studies reporting prevalence and/or AMR of human-derived DEC pathotypes from African nations, excluding data from extra-intestinal, animal, and environmental sources and studies focused on drug and mechanism experiments.

A Genomic Snapshot of Antibiotic-Resistant within Public Hospital Environments in South Africa.

Enterococci are among the most common opportunistic hospital pathogens. This study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics to determine the antibiotic resistome, mobile genetic elements, clone and phylogenetic relationship of isolated from hospital environments in South Africa. This study was carried out from September to November 2017.

Neutralizing Carbapenem Resistance by Co-Administering Meropenem with Novel β-Lactam-Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitors.

Virulent Enterobacterale strains expressing serine and metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) genes have emerged responsible for conferring resistance to hard-to-treat infectious diseases. One strategy that exists is to develop β-lactamase inhibitors to counter this resistance. Currently, serine β-lactamase inhibitors (SBLIs) are in therapeutic use.

In Vitro and In Vivo Development of a β-Lactam-Metallo-β-Lactamase Inhibitor: Targeting Carbapenem-Resistant .

β-lactams are the most prescribed class of antibiotics due to their potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. However, alarming rates of antimicrobial resistance now threaten the clinical relevance of these drugs, especially for the carbapenem-resistant expressing metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). Antimicrobial agents that specifically target these enzymes to restore the efficacy of last resort β-lactam drugs, that is, carbapenems, are therefore desperately needed.

Phenotypic and Genomic Insights into Biofilm Formation in Antibiotic-Resistant Clinical Coagulase-Negative Species from South Africa.

The work aims to investigate biofilm formation and biofilm/adhesion-encoding genes in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species recovered from blood culture isolates. Eighty-nine clinical CoNS were confirmed using the VITEK 2 system, and antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolates was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against a panel of 20 antibiotics. Isolates were qualitatively screened using the Congo red agar medium.

Salmonella Yoruba: A rare serotype revealed through genomic sequencing along the farm-to-fork continuum of an intensive poultry farm in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Salmonella enterica is a zoonotic pathogen of worldwide public health importance. We characterised Salmonella isolates from poultry along the farm-to-fork continuum using whole genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatic analyses. Three multilocus sequence types (MLSTs), i.

A Public Health Insight into in Poultry in Africa: A Review of the Past Decade: 2010-2020.

Poultry is a cheap source of animal protein and constituent of diets in Africa. Poultry can serve as a reservoir for and cause food-borne infections in humans. This review describes contamination of food, poultry, and the farming environment, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and serotypes of , as well as the farming systems, antimicrobial use (AMU), hygiene, and husbandry conditions used to rear poultry in Africa.

Food animals as reservoirs and potential sources of multidrug-resistant diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes: Focus on intensive pig farming in South Africa.

Background:  Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are a major cause of diarrheal diseases in both developed and developing countries. Healthy asymptomatic animals may be reservoirs of zoonotic DEC, which may enter the food chain via the weak points in hygiene practices.

Molecular Epidemiology of in Poultry in South Africa Using the Farm-to-Fork Approach.

The presence of the zoonotic pathogen in the food supply chain poses a serious public health threat. This study describes the prevalence, susceptibility profiles, virulence patterns, and clonality of from a poultry flock monitored over six weeks, using the farm-to-fork approach. was isolated using selective media and confirmed to the genus and species level by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the and genes, respectively.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterizations of Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) on Frequently Touched Sites from Public Hospitals in South Africa.

The hospital environment acts as a reservoir in the transmission of pathogens, such as MRSA, which may cause hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence, genetic relatedness, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profile of MRSA on some frequently touched hospital sites in South Africa. A total of 777 swabs were randomly collected from 11 frequently touched sites in the hospital environment of three wards of four public hospitals in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

Occurrence, Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence Factors, and Genetic Diversity of spp. from Public Hospital Environments in South Africa.

This study aimed to assess the molecular dissemination of species in public hospitals in South Africa. The study conducted over 3 months during 2017 involved representative samples obtained from three wards (general ward, intensive care unit, and pediatric unit) from four public hospitals denoted as A (Central), B (Tertiary), C (Regional), and D (District). Swabs collected from 11 distinct hospital surfaces were screened using selective media, biochemical testing, and molecular methods.

Genomic Analysis of Antibiotic-Resistant Isolates From Clinical Sources in the Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

has become an important nosocomial pathogen. Multidrug resistance makes infections difficult to treat. The study aims to describe the genomic characteristics of methicillin-resistant (MRSE) isolated from clinical sources, to comprehend the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance, virulence, and potential pathogenicity.

Enterococcal contamination of hospital environments in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Aims: Enterococci are implicated in hospital-acquired infections and show high tenacity on inanimate objects in the hospital environment. This study investigated the prevalence of Enterococcus spp. in selected wards in public hospitals at four levels of healthcare from a district in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Super-Cationic Peptide Dendrimers-Synthesis and Evaluation as Antimicrobial Agents.

Microbial infections are a major public health concern. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been demonstrated to be a plausible alternative to the current arsenal of drugs that has become inefficient due to multidrug resistance. Herein we describe a new AMP family, namely the super-cationic peptide dendrimers (SCPDs).

Molecular Surveillance and Dissemination of on Frequently Encountered Surfaces in South African Public Hospitals.

Bacteria that cause life-threatening illnesses in humans are also capable of contaminating hospital surfaces, thus pose as a potential source of infection. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, genetic diversity, virulence, and antibiotic resistance profile of in South Africa. In a nonoutbreak setting involving four public hospitals, 777 samples were collected in three different wards from 11 different sites.

From the Farms to the Dining Table: The Distribution and Molecular Characteristics of Antibiotic-Resistant spp. in Intensive Pig Farming in South Africa.

Foodborne pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant species, constitute a severe menace to food safety globally, especially food animals. Identifying points of concern that need immediate mitigation measures to prevent these bacteria from reaching households requires a broad understanding of these pathogens' spread along the food production chain. We investigated the distribution, antibiotic susceptibility, molecular characterization and clonality of spp.

Occurrence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Molecular Characterization of spp. in Intensive Pig Production in South Africa.

spp. are among the leading foodborne pathogens, causing campylobacteriosis, a zoonotic infection that results in bacterial gastroenteritis and diarrheal disease in animals and humans. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant spp.

in Intensive Pig Production in South Africa: Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence Determinants, and Clonality.

Although is a major threat to the veterinary, agricultural, and public health sectors because of its zoonotic potential, studies on its molecular characterisation in intensive animal production are rare. We phenotypically and genotypically characterised antibiotic-resistant in intensive pig production in South Africa, using the farm-to-fork approach. Samples ( = 461) were collected from the farm, transport vehicles, and the abattoir using the World Health Organisation on Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (WHO-AGISAR) sampling protocol.

Multidrug-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bloodstream in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa: Emerging Pathogens.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are increasingly associated with nosocomial infections, especially among the immunocompromised and those with invasive medical devices, posing a significant concern. We report on clinical multidrug-resistant CoNS from the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, as emerging pathogens. One hundred and thirty presumptive CoNS were obtained from blood cultures.

From Farm-to-Fork: from an Intensive Pig Production System in South Africa Shows High Resistance to Critically Important Antibiotics for Human and Animal Use.

Antibiotic resistance profiles of were investigated in an intensive pig production system in the uMgungundlovu District, South Africa, using the 'farm-to-fork' approach. Four hundred seventeen (417) samples were collected from pig and pig products at different points (farm, transport, and abattoir). was isolated and enumerated using the Colilert 18/Quanti-Tray 2000 system.

Molecular Epidemiology of Antibiotic-Resistant from Farm-To-Fork in Intensive Poultry Production in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The increased use of antibiotics in food animals has resulted in the selection of drug-resistant bacteria across the farm-to-fork continuum. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant from intensively produced poultry in the uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Samples were collected weekly between August and September 2017 from hatching to final retail products.

Bacterial diversity and functional profile of microbial populations on surfaces in public hospital environments in South Africa: A high throughput metagenomic analysis.

With the introduction of the One Health approach to global health advocated by the World Health Organization, the role of the environment as a reservoir and transmission route for diverse microorganisms is increasingly being recognised globally. This study investigated the diversity and functional profiles of bacterial communities using high-throughput metagenomics of the 16S rRNA gene in samples collected from environmental surfaces in different levels of healthcare in South Africa. A total of 150 samples were collected in three public hospitals [District (A), Regional (C) and Central (B)] from intensive care and paediatric wards.

Review of Clinically and Epidemiologically Relevant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in Africa.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have engendered substantial interest in recent years as pathogenic causes of infections in both human and veterinary medicine, especially in the immunocompromised, critically ill, long-term hospitalized and in those harboring invasive medical devices such as catheters. They have been implicated in infections such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and invasive device-related infections, and are responsible for substantial economic losses in livestock production. The advancement of diagnostic techniques has increased our understanding of their molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, even though distinguishing between innocuousness and pathogenicity is still challenging.

Characterisation of spp. Isolated from Poultry in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

This study investigated the antibiotic resistance, virulence profiles, and clonality of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from an intensive poultry farming system in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Following ethical approval, samples were collected over six weeks using the farm-to-fork approach. Campylobacter spp.