Application of Next-Generation Sequencing for Characterization of Surveillance and Clinical Trial Isolates: Analysis of the Distribution of β-lactamase Resistance Genes and Lineage Background in the United States.

BACKGROUND

Sequencing technologies and techniques have seen remarkable transformation and innovation that have significantly affected sequencing capability. Data analyses have replaced sequencing as the main challenge. This paper provides an overview on applying next-generation sequencing (NGS) and analysis and discusses the benefits and challenges. In addition, this document shows results from using NGS and bioinformatics tools to screen for β-lactamase genes and assess the epidemiological structure of and -causing bloodstream (BSIs) and urinary tract (UTIs) infections in patients hospitalized in the United States during the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program for 2016.

METHODS

A total of 3525 isolates (2751 and 774 ) causing BSIs (n = 892) and UTIs (n = 2633) in hospitalized patients in the United States were included. Isolates were tested for susceptibility by broth microdilution, and those that met a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)-based screening criteria had their genomes sequenced and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 11.6% and 16.1% of causing UTIs and BSIs, respectively, met the MIC-based criteria, whereas 11.0% and 13.7% of isolates causing UTIs and BSIs, respectively, met the criteria. Among , variants (87.6% overall) prevailed (60.5% of CTX-M group 1 and 26.9% of group 9). A total of 60.3% of isolates carried variants (52.7% and 7.6% of groups 1 and 9, respectively). Two (0.6%) and 13 (12.9%) isolates harbored . Among KPC-producing (2 from BSIs and 11 from UTIs), 84.6% (11/13) were ST258 (CC258). Seventeen and 38 unique clonal complexes (CCs) were noted in that caused BSIs and UTIs, respectively, and CC131 (or ST131) was the most common CC among BSI (53.6%) and UTI (58.2%) isolates. Twenty-three and 26 CCs were noted among -causing BSIs and UTIs, respectively. CC258 (28.3%) prevailed in UTI pathogens, whereas CC307 (15.0%) was the most common CC among BSI isolates.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a benchmark for the distribution of β-lactamase genes and the population structure information for the most common species responsible for BSIs and UTIs in US medical centers during the 2016 SENTRY Program.