Abstract
Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore antimicrobial resistance gene determinant, and phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility, data for Fusobacterium necrophorum from a collection of UK strains. In addition, antimicrobial resistance genes detected in publicly available assembled whole genome sequences were investigated for comparison.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty five F. necrophorum strains (1982-2019) were revived from cryovials (Prolab). Subsequent to sequencing (Illumina) and quality checking, 374 whole genomes were available for analysis. These genomes, in addition to publicly available assembled F. necrophorum genetic data, were interrogated using BioNumerics (bioMérieux; v 8.1), for the presence of known antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Agar dilution susceptibility results for 313 F. necrophorum isolates (2016-2021) were also examined.
Results: The phenotypic antibiotic test data for the 313 contemporary strains demonstrated potential resistance to penicillin, without increased dosing, in only three isolates. Otherwise, all strains were susceptible to ceftriaxone, clindamycin, co-amoxiclav, meropenem, metronidazole, penicillin and piperacillin/tazobactam, using EUCAST (v 11.0) interpretive guidance. The tet(O), tet(M), tet(40), aph(3’)-III, ant(6)-la and blaOXA-85 ARGs were present in publicly available assembled genomes. tet(M), tet(32), erm(A) and erm(B) were found within the UK strains, with correspondingly raised clindamycin and tetracycline minimum inhibitory concentrations.
Conclusions: Current antibiotics recommended for the treatment of infections caused by F. necrophorum, including Lemierre’s disease, are likely to be effective in most cases. However, with evidence of potential ARG transmission from oral bacteria, and the detection of a transposon-mediated beta-lactamase resistance determinant in F. necrophorum, surveillance of both phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial susceptibility trends must continue, and increase.
Methods: Three hundred and eighty five F. necrophorum strains (1982-2019) were revived from cryovials (Prolab). Subsequent to sequencing (Illumina) and quality checking, 374 whole genomes were available for analysis. These genomes, in addition to publicly available assembled F. necrophorum genetic data, were interrogated using BioNumerics (bioMérieux; v 8.1), for the presence of known antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Agar dilution susceptibility results for 313 F. necrophorum isolates (2016-2021) were also examined.
Results: The phenotypic antibiotic test data for the 313 contemporary strains demonstrated potential resistance to penicillin, without increased dosing, in only three isolates. Otherwise, all strains were susceptible to ceftriaxone, clindamycin, co-amoxiclav, meropenem, metronidazole, penicillin and piperacillin/tazobactam, using EUCAST (v 11.0) interpretive guidance. The tet(O), tet(M), tet(40), aph(3’)-III, ant(6)-la and blaOXA-85 ARGs were present in publicly available assembled genomes. tet(M), tet(32), erm(A) and erm(B) were found within the UK strains, with correspondingly raised clindamycin and tetracycline minimum inhibitory concentrations.
Conclusions: Current antibiotics recommended for the treatment of infections caused by F. necrophorum, including Lemierre’s disease, are likely to be effective in most cases. However, with evidence of potential ARG transmission from oral bacteria, and the detection of a transposon-mediated beta-lactamase resistance determinant in F. necrophorum, surveillance of both phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial susceptibility trends must continue, and increase.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 102717 |
| Journal | Anaerobe |
| Volume | 80 |
| Early online date | 5 Mar 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2023 |
Keywords
- Fusobacterium necrophorum
- Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS)
- Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs)
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST)