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European Pharmaceutical Students’ Association
Colonization and Microbial Contamination of Public Washrooms by Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria: a pilot study Author: Inês Catarina Vieira Lourenço Scientific Coordinator: Professor João Perdigão Institution: iMed ULisboa, Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon
INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to resist antibiotics. It is the main infectious health problem in the countries of the European Economic Area (EU / EEA) and one of the main causes of concern in public health. Inadequate use or prescription of antibiotics, insufficient prevention, and control of infections in hospitals are the main factors supporting the development of AMR. The main cause for this phenomenon is associated with the high rate of prescription of this type of drug, including its excess or inadequate prescription. Other causes may include the consumption and use of antibiotics in agriculture, climate change and chemotherapy in cancer patients. The most commonly reported bacterial species associated with invasive infections in the EU/ EEA area were Escherichia coli, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumanni, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus Faecalis and Enterococcus Faecium. AMR’s cost to savings is significant. In addition to death and disability, prolonged illness results in longer hospital stays, the need for more expensive drugs and financial challenges for patients. The health cost of infections caused by AMR bacteria in the EU/EEA population is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined. AIM: That said, the aim of this pilot study was not only to investigate the contamination of public restrooms by Gram-negative bacteria with resistance to third generation cephalosporins or carbapenems, but also to characterize drug susceptibility profiles and identify isolates at the level of species.
CONCLUSION: The highest degree of intrinsic resistance of the isolates belonging to the order Pseudomonadales stands out. However, one of the isolates belonging to the order Enterobacteriales and identified as belonging to the genus Klebsiella showed concomitant resistance to third 6 generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides, highlighting the need to proceed with the characterization of the respective genetic determinants and genetic strains context.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight samples were collected in toilets, faucets, and sanitary brushes at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon. The samples were subjected to isolation of Gram-negative bacteria resistant to third generation carbapenems, cephalosporins and antibiotic susceptibility testing, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, purification, and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS:
No
contamination
by
resistant to the antibiotics studied was detected in taps or toilets, suggesting a greater degree of sanitation when compared to sanitary brushes. Seven clinical isolates belonging to the orders Entrobacteriales (n=2) and Pseudomonadales (n=5) were identified at the level of sanitary brushes.
