A New Tool for Analyses of Whole Genome Sequences Reveals Dissemination of Specific Strains of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium in a Hospital

Lis Marbjerg, Caroline Louise Stougaard, Sophie Amalie Grønhøj Sørensen, Amalie Vørs Thomsen, Lis Wang, Lise Andersen, Thomas Emil Andersen, Birgitte Kallipolitis, Michael Kemp*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

A new easy-to-use online bioinformatic tool analyzing whole genome sequences of healthcare associated bacteria was used by a local infection control unit to retrospectively map genetic relationship of isolates of E. faecium carrying resistance genes to vancomycin in a hospital. Three clusters of isolates were detected over a period of 5 years, suggesting transmission between patients. Individual relatedness between isolates within each cluster was established by SNP analyses provided by the system. Genetic antimicrobial resistance mechanisms to antibiotics other than vancomycin were identified. The results suggest that the system is suited for hospital surveillance of E. faecium carrying resistance genes to vancomycin in settings with access to next Generation Sequencing without bioinformatic expertise for interpretation of the genome sequences.

Original languageEnglish
Article number733676
JournalFrontiers in Medicine
Volume8
Number of pages6
ISSN2296-858X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27. Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Marbjerg, Stougaard, Sørensen, Thomsen, Wang, Andersen, Andersen, Kallipolitis and Kemp.

Keywords

  • bioinformatics
  • genomic epidemiology
  • infection control
  • surveillance
  • vancomycin resistant enterococci
  • whole genome sequencing

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