Phenotypic and molecular investigation of the beta-lactam resistance in Enterobacter cloacae complex bacteria isolated from hospitalized patients

• Grant number: 16/09150-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Leonardo Neves de Andrade
• Grantee: Natália Columbaro Moreira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bacteria belong to the Enterobacter genus are emerging among the leading causes of hospital infections, as well as involved in disseminating of important determinants of antibiotic resistance. Enterobacter cloacae Complex bacteria (EcC, E. cloacae, Enterobacter hormaechei, Enterobacter asburiae, Enterobacter kobei and Enterobacter ludwigii) and Enterobacter aerogenes are the main pathogens, however, due to the difficulty of EcC identification, little is known about the real epidemiology of species causing infections, thereby current data can be mistaken, and impact on prognosis and treatment of infections. The aim of this research project is to investigate beta-lactamases in different species belonging to EcC bacteria resistant to broad spectrum beta-lactam of patients isolated in a university hospital in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. For this purpose, will be performed phenotypic detection of ESBL production, AmpC hyperproduction and carbapenemase production, followed by research and identification of acquired resistance genes. When detected beta-lactamase of interest, acquired resistance genes to quinolones will be also investigated. This study aims to provide data that can contribute to the knowledge of the differences among species from EcC bacteria and future prognosis/differential management of infections caused by these bacteria.