Molecular Epidemiology of Third-Generation-Cephalosporin-Resistant <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> in Southeast Queensland, Australia
Adam G. Stewart, Erin P. Price, Kim Schabacker, Mehmet Birikmen, Patrick N. A. Harris, Keat Choong, Shradha Subedi, Derek S. Sarovich
Abstract
Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Enterobacteriaceae represent a major threat to human health. Here, we captured 288 3GC-R Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates from 264 patients presenting at a regional Australian hospital over a 14-month period. In addition to identification of isolates to the species level by routine mass spectrometry and antibiotic sensitivity testing, isolates were examined using rapid (∼40-min) real-time PCR assays targeting the most common extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs; bla CTX-M-1 and bla CTX-M-9 groups, plus bla TEM , bla SHV , and an internal 16S rRNA gene control).