QAC resistance genes in ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Central Slovenia region—a 21-year survey

Hrovat, Katja (author), Čremožnik Zupančič, Jerneja (author), Seme, Katja (author), Ambrožič, Jerneja (author)

Biocidal products prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC), which is one of the most alarming health problems worldwide. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are surface-active agents that interact with the cytoplasmic membrane and are widely used in hospitals and food processing environments. A collection of 577 ESBL-EC, isolated from lower respiratory tract (LRT) samples, was screened for QAC resistance genes oqxA; oqxB; qacE∆1; qacE; qacF/H/I; qacG; sugE (p); emrE; mdfA; sugE (c); ydgE; ydgF; and for class 1, 2, and 3 integrons. The prevalence of chromosome-encoded genes ranged from 77 to 100%, while the prevalence of QAC resistance genes encoded on mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was relatively low (0–0.9%), with the exception of qacE∆1 (54.6%). PCR screening detected the presence of class 1 integrons in 36.3% (n = 210) of isolates, which were positively correlated with qacE∆1. More correlations between QAC resistance genes, integrons, sequence type group ST131, and β-lactamase genes were presented. The results of our study confirm the presence of QAC resistance genes and also class 1 integrons commonly found in multidrug-resistant clinical isolates and highlight the potential role of QAC resistance genes in the selection of ESBL-producing E. coli in hospitals.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Escherichia coli, lower respiratory tract, extended-spectrum β-lactamases, resistance gene, QAC, lower respiratory tract samples
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty; MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 8, iss. 5, art. 273
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-153248
• UDC: 579
• ISSN on article: 2414-6366
• DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8050273
• COBISS.SI-ID: 152196611
• Publication date in RUL: 20.12.2023

HROVAT, Katja, ČREMOŽNIK ZUPANČIČ, Jerneja, SEME, Katja and AMBROŽIČ, Jerneja, 2023, QAC resistance genes in ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from patients with lower respiratory tract infections in the Central Slovenia region—a 21-year survey. Tropical medicine and infectious disease [online]. 2023. Vol. 8, no. 5,  273. [Accessed 5 April 2025]. DOI 10.3390/tropicalmed8050273. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=153248

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Tropical medicine and infectious disease
• Shortened title: Trop. med. infect. dis.
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2414-6366
• COBISS.SI-ID: 526463769

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Escherichia coli, izolati, spodnje dihalne poti, β-laktamaze, razširjeno delovanje, rezistenčni geni, QAC

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0198
• Name: Molekularno-biološke raziskave mikroorganizmov

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Funding programme: Young researchers