Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae from indoor air of an urban wastewater treatment plant.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been recognized as sources of bioaerosols that may act as vehicles for dissemination of pathogens and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. The occurrence of MDR Enterobacteriaceae in indoor air of an urban WWTP was investigated. A possible airborne contamination with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was also explored. Fourteen of 39 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were MDR. These isolates were found at all sampling sites, mainly at the secondary sedimentation settings. The highest levels of resistance were detected in three different species: Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter freundii. Furthermore, one of the airborne E. coli isolates was phenotypically characterized as an ESBL producer. Additionally, five isolates showed non-susceptibility to at least one carbapenem tested. The presence of genes encoding relevant beta-lactamase types in these ESBL-producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates was investigated by PCR. Results showed amplification for bla CTX-M and bla OXA. These findings are relevant both in terms of occupational/public health and of environmental dissemination of MDR bacteria.
CEQUIMED, Microbiology Service, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
Juliana V
JV
Teixeira
REQUIMTE, Microbiology Service, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
Pedro
P
Cecílio
REQUIMTE, Microbiology Service, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
Daniela
D
Gonçalves
LSRE-Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Associate Laboratory LSRE/LCM, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
Vítor J P
VJ
Vilar
CEQUIMED, Microbiology Service, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.|CIIMAR/CIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123, Porto, Portugal.
Eugénia
E
Pinto
REQUIMTE, Microbiology Service, Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n.° 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. hferr@ff.up.pt.
Helena N
HN
Ferreira
D000391:Air Microbiology; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D062065:Wastewater; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase
Airborne Enterobacteriaceae; Carbapenemase; ESBL; Multidrug-resistant; Wastewater treatment plant