title: Profiling the fecal carriage of β-lactamase genes in long-term care facility residents: A longitudinal study.
abstract: The fecal carriage of β-lactamase (BL)-producing bacteria may play a major role in the spread of these organisms in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The aims of this study were (1) to describe the gene profiles of fecal BL in 3 LCTFs in Taiwan and (2) to analyze the fecal carriage burden of BL genes between the residents (patient group) and staff (staff group) of LTCFs.
  
  
  
  Thirty fecal samples were collected during June 2013 and July 2015: 20 were obtained from 10 residents both during hospitalization (T1) and 1 month after discharge (T2), and 10 were obtained from 10 staff members.
  
  
  
  In total, 80%, 70%, and 50% of the samples in the patient group at T1, staff group at T2, and patient group at T2, respectively, contained >2 BL genes. In the patient group, the predominant genes belonged to extended-spectrum BL genes (90%-100%) and AmpC BL genes (90%-100%). Furthermore, carbapenemase genes were approximately 20% during T1 and T2. The relative levels of SHV-type BLs were significantly higher (P < .05) in the patient group at T2 compared with the staff group.
  
  
  
  In this study, we found a high carriage of fecal BLs among LTCF residents and staff. The monitoring of fecal BL carriage in LTCFs is needed for infection control measures and antibiotic choice for health care-associated infections.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, College of Medicine & Nursing, Hung Kuang University, Taichung County, Taiwan.
authors: Chang-Hua
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medicine, Nantou Christian Hospital, Nantou City, Taiwan.
authors: Ming-Chuan
authors: MC
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Providence University, Taichung County, Taiwan.
authors: Kuan-Hsueh
authors: KH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors: Han-Yueh
authors: HY
authors: Kuo
authors: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan. Electronic address: d918229@gmail.com.
authors: Ming-Li
authors: ML
authors: Liou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001618:beta-Lactamases
keywords: Fecal carriage; long-term care facility; longitudinal study; β-lactamase genes