Draft Genome Sequence of a New Bacterium Named Rappaport israeli, gen. nov., sp. nov., Isolated from a Blood Culture.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Gram-negative microbe found in a blood culture (B08008) from a patient. The organism was proposed to be from a new unknown genus and species. This publication will increase worldwide microbial knowledge and may improve microbial identification and antibiotic treatment for patients.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Suttonellaornithocola Bacterium.

We report here the draft genome sequence of the Suttonella ornithocola bacterium. To date, this bacterium, found in birds, passed only phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of the Suttonella ornithocola genome sequence. The genetic profile provides a basis for further analysis of its infection pathways.

Arrival of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing KPC carbapenemase in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: KPC-type carbapenemases are increasingly prevalent in parts of the USA and Israel and are an emerging concern in South America, Europe and China. We investigated the UK's first two KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. METHODS: The isolates were referred to the UK's national reference laboratory for confirmation of carbapenem resistance. Susceptibilities were determined by agar dilution, and bla(KPC) and Tn4401-like elements were sought by PCR and sequencing. Isolates were compared by PFGE of XbaI- and SpeI-digested genomic DNA. RESULTS: The isolates were from patients in different UK hospitals, with no epidemiological connection. Both were resistant to carbapenems (MICs > 16 mg/L), with imipenem MICs unchanged by EDTA, and also to all other beta-lactams (including inhibitor combinations), tobramycin, amikacin and ciprofloxacin. They were susceptible to gentamicin (MICs

Genotyping DNA chip for the simultaneous assessment of antibiotic resistance and pathogenic potential of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most frequently occurring infections and are mostly caused by extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli. DNA microarrays are potent molecular diagnostic tools for rapid diagnosis of bacterial infections with high relevance for UTIs. In this study, we present the integration and application of two DNA chip modules for the simultaneous detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in gyrA (quinolone resistance) and fimH (increased adhesion to urinary tract epithelium). The performance of the combined diagnostic chip was assessed by genotyping 140 E. coli strains. Resistance-causing mutations could only be identified in UTI isolates. A complete genotyping assay could be performed in <4h after DNA extraction. Together with the excellent genotyping results, this constitutes a competitive alternative as a standard tool for routine clinical diagnostics.

Integron-mediated ESBL resistance in rare serotypes of Escherichia coli causing infections in an elderly population of Israel.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and characterize the aetiology of an outbreak of extra-intestinal multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections in elderly patients in Israel. METHODS: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing clinical isolates of E. coli from extra-intestinal sources were tested for susceptibility to non-beta-lactam drugs, and their serotypes were determined. Restriction enzyme digestion, followed by PFGE of DNA purified from isolates, was used to classify the phylogenetic relationship between them. Plasmid DNA from five isolates of different serotypes was used to transform an E. coli laboratory strain. The plasmids were partially sequenced. RESULTS: E. coli isolates from 86 patients, mostly elderly, were shown to be positive for inhibitor-susceptible ESBLs, and more resistant to cefotaxime than to ceftazidime. Ninety-six per cent of ESBL producers were also resistant to gentamicin, and 100% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. All isolates belonged to one of five serotypes. PFGE analysis of purified DNA yielded 17 profiles. Sequencing of plasmids isolated from the transformants identified sul1, aac(6')-Ib and bla(CTX-M-2). These genes were embedded in an integron, InS21. CONCLUSIONS: Extra-intestinal infections with ESBL-producing E. coli of different serotypes and probably mixed clonality showed a surprising homogeneity in resistance profiles, with 100% being co-resistant to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and 96% to gentamicin. Plasmid DNA from three isolates from different serotypes contained integron InS21, previously demonstrated in Salmonella enterica from Argentina. This is the first molecular identification of an ESBL gene and integron in Israel or neighbouring geographical areas.

Endemic occurrence of infections by multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli of four unique serotypes in the elderly population of Israel.

During a period of four years, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli of particular serotypes have been isolated from 255 elderly (>65 years) patients from four hospitals in central Israel. 83% of the isolates belonged to one of four predominant serotypes (O153:H31, O101:H-, O2:H42, and O102:H6). All isolates were producers of extended spectrum beta-lactamases and resistant to ciprofloxacin. To our knowledge, the involved serotypes have hitherto not been reported as etiological agents of extraintestinal human infections (MEDLINE). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of isolates from one of the most frequent serotypes indicated a clonal relationship between them. Further investigation of these strains and analysis of their virulence factors may help to confine their spread.