First detection of an OXA-48-producing Enterobacter cloacae isolate from currency coins in Algeria

Esma Bendjama (1) , Lotfi Loucif (1) , Widad Chelaghma (2) , Chahrazed Attal (1) , Fatma Zohra Bellakh (1) , Randa Benaldjia (1) , Imene Kahlat (1) , Amna Meddour (1) , Jean-Marc Rolain (3, 4)

1 University of Batna2
2 Université Aboubekr Belkaid - University of Belkaïd Abou Bekr [Tlemcen]
3 MEPHI - Microbes évolution phylogénie et infections
4 IHU Marseille - Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection

Objectives: The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) from Algerian currency collected from food vendors in Batna city, Algeria. Methods: During two periods (May 2018 and March-April 2019), a total of 408 coins and currency notes of different denominations of Algerian Dinar were randomly recovered from several food vendors. Samples were subjected to selective isolation of extended-spectrum cephalosporin- and carbapenem-resistant GNB. Bacterial species identification was performed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method. Carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes were searched for by real-time PCR, standard PCR and sequencing. The clonal relationship of carbapenemase-producing isolates was investigated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The transferability of the detected carbapenemase-encoding gene was verified by conjugation experiments. Results: Twelve cefotaxime- and/or carbapenem-resistant strains were isolated in this study and were identified as Enterobacter cloacae, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas libanensis and Pseudomonas stutzeri. The blaoxA\₄8 gene was detected in only one E. cloacae strain belonging to sequence type 108 (ST108), whilst the two R. ornithinolytica isolates harboured blacrx_ m\₂7 and one E. coli strain carried blacrx\ₘ\₁4. The detected blaoxA\₄8 gene was transferable by conjugation. Conclusions: We report for the first time the detection of an OXA-48-producing E. cloacae isolate from money. This calls for consciousness development on the potential risks associated with poor handling of currency. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Esma Bendjama, Lotfi Loucif, Widad Chelaghma, Chahrazed Attal, Fatma Zohra Bellakh, et al.. First detection of an OXA-48-producing Enterobacter cloacae isolate from currency coins in Algeria. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 2020, 23, pp.162-166. ⟨10.1016/j.jgar.2020.09.003⟩. ⟨hal-03149231⟩