scholarly journals Antigenic escape selects for the evolution of higher pathogen transmission and virulence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Sasaki ◽  
Sébastien Lion ◽  
Mike Boots
Keyword(s):  
Pathogen Transmission

scholarly journals Evaluating Metagenomic Analysis for Pathogen Transmission in Healthcare Settings

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s224-s224
Author(s):  
Curt Hewitt ◽  
Katharina Weber ◽  
Danielle LeSassier ◽  
Anthony Kappell ◽  
Kathleen Schulte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Metagenomic Analysis ◽  
Skin Microbiome ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Skin Contact

Background: The prevalence of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) and rising levels of antimicrobial resistance place a significant burden on modern healthcare systems. Cultures are typically used to track HAIs; however, culture methods provide limited information and are not applicable to all pathogens. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can detect and characterize pathogens present within a sample, but few research studies have explored how NGS could be used to detect pathogen transmission events under HAI-relevant scenarios. The objective of this CDC-funded project was to evaluate and correlate sequencing approaches for pathogen transmission with standard culture-based analysis. Methods: We modeled pathogen transfer via hand contact using synthetic skin. These skin coupons were seeded with a community of commensal organisms to mimic the human skin microbiome. Pathogens were added at physiologically relevant high or low levels prior to skin-to-skin contact. The ESKAPE pathogens: E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp plus C. difficile were employed because they are the most common antibiotic resistant HAIs. Pathogen transfer between skin coupons was measured following direct skin contact and fomite surface transmission. The effects of handwashing or fomite decontamination were also evaluated. Transferred pathogens were enumerated via culture to establish a robust data set against which DNA and RNA sequence analyses of the same samples could be compared. These data also provide a quantitative assessment of individual ESKAPE+C pathogen transfer rates in skin contact scenarios. Results: Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis using custom analysis pipelines and reference databases successfully identified the commensal and pathogenic organisms present in each sample at the species level. This analysis also identified antibiotic resistance genes and plasmids. Metatranscriptomic analysis permitted not only gene identification but also confirmation of gene expression, a critical factor in the evaluation of antibiotic resistance. DNA analysis does not require cell viability, a key differentiator between sequencing and culturing reflected in simulated handwashing data. Sensitivity remains a key limitation of metagenomic analysis, as shown by the poor species identification and gene content characterization of pathogens present at low abundance within the simulated microbial community. Species level identification typically failed as ratios fell below 1:1,000 pathogen CFU:total community CFU. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of NGS for molecular epidemiology. The data sets produced for this study are publicly available so they can be employed for future metagenomic benchmarking studies.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Implications of diet on mosquito life history traits and pathogen transmission

2021 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 110893
Author(s):  
Laura Carvajal-Lago ◽  
María José Ruiz-López ◽  
Jordi Figuerola ◽  
Josué Martínez-de la Puente
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Pathogen Transmission

scholarly journals Can Copper Products and Surfaces Reduce the Spread of Infectious Microorganisms and Hospital-Acquired Infections?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3444
Author(s):  
Joji Abraham ◽  
Kim Dowling ◽  
Singarayer Florentine
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Copper Alloys ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Pathogen transfer and infection in the built environment are globally significant events, leading to the spread of disease and an increase in subsequent morbidity and mortality rates. There are numerous strategies followed in healthcare facilities to minimize pathogen transfer, but complete infection control has not, as yet, been achieved. However, based on traditional use in many cultures, the introduction of copper products and surfaces to significantly and positively retard pathogen transmission invites further investigation. For example, many microbes are rendered unviable upon contact exposure to copper or copper alloys, either immediately or within a short time. In addition, many disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, hospital superbugs, and several viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) are also susceptible to exposure to copper surfaces. It is thus suggested that replacing common touch surfaces in healthcare facilities, food industries, and public places (including public transport) with copper or alloys of copper may substantially contribute to limiting transmission. Subsequent hospital admissions and mortality rates will consequently be lowered, with a concomitant saving of lives and considerable levels of resources. This consideration is very significant in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming epidemics, as it is becoming clear that all forms of possible infection control measures should be practiced in order to protect community well-being and promote healthy outcomes.

scholarly journals Metagenomics Analysis Reveals the Microbial Communities, Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Diversity and Potential Pathogen Transmission Risk of Two Different Landfills in China

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 230
Author(s):  
Shan Wan ◽  
Min Xia ◽  
Jie Tao ◽  
Yanjun Pang ◽  
Fugen Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Resistance Gene ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Gene Diversity ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Gene ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Gene

In this study, we used a metagenomic approach to analyze microbial communities, antibiotic resistance gene diversity, and human pathogenic bacterium composition in two typical landfills in China. Results showed that the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were predominant in the two landfills, and archaea and fungi were also detected. The genera Methanoculleus, Lysobacter, and Pseudomonas were predominantly present in all samples. sul2, sul1, tetX, and adeF were the four most abundant antibiotic resistance genes. Sixty-nine bacterial pathogens were identified from the two landfills, with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bordetella pertussis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus as the major pathogenic microorganisms, indicating the existence of potential environmental risk in landfills. In addition, KEGG pathway analysis indicated the presence of antibiotic resistance genes typically associated with human antibiotic resistance bacterial strains. These results provide insights into the risk of pathogens in landfills, which is important for controlling the potential secondary transmission of pathogens and reducing workers’ health risk during landfill excavation.

scholarly journals Temporal and Spatial Blood Feeding Patterns of Urban Mosquitoes in the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Hopken ◽  
Limarie J. Reyes-Torres ◽  
Nicole Scavo ◽  
Antoinette J. Piaggio ◽  
Zaid Abdo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Urban Ecosystems ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
San Juan ◽  
Vertebrate Species ◽  
Blood Meals

Urban ecosystems are a patchwork of habitats that host a broad diversity of animal species. Insects comprise a large portion of urban biodiversity which includes many pest species, including those that transmit pathogens. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) inhabit urban environments and rely on sympatric vertebrate species to complete their life cycles, and in this process transmit pathogens to animals and humans. Given that mosquitoes feed upon vertebrates, they can also act as efficient samplers that facilitate detection of vertebrate species that utilize urban ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed DNA extracted from mosquito blood meals collected temporally in multiple neighborhoods of the San Juan Metropolitan Area, Puerto Rico to evaluate the presence of vertebrate fauna. DNA was collected from 604 individual mosquitoes that represented two common urban species, Culex quinquefasciatus (n = 586) and Aedes aegypti (n = 18). Culex quinquefasciatus fed on 17 avian taxa (81.2% of blood meals), seven mammalian taxa (17.9%), and one reptilian taxon (0.85%). Domestic chickens dominated these blood meals both temporally and spatially, and no statistically significant shift from birds to mammals was detected. Aedes aegypti blood meals were from a less diverse group, with two avian taxa (11.1%) and three mammalian taxa (88.9%) identified. The blood meals we identified provided a snapshot of the vertebrate community in the San Juan Metropolitan Area and have potential implications for vector-borne pathogen transmission.

scholarly journals Quantity and Quality of Aquaculture Enrichments Influence Disease Epidemics and Provide Ecological Alternatives to Antibiotics

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 335
Author(s):  
Anssi Karvonen ◽  
Ville Räihä ◽  
Ines Klemme ◽  
Roghaieh Ashrafi ◽  
Pekka Hyvärinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Flavobacterium Columnare ◽  
Disease Epidemics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Environmental Microbes

Environmental heterogeneity is a central component influencing the virulence and epidemiology of infectious diseases. The number and distribution of susceptible hosts determines disease transmission opportunities, shifting the epidemiological threshold between the spread and fadeout of a disease. Similarly, the presence and diversity of other hosts, pathogens and environmental microbes, may inhibit or accelerate an epidemic. This has important applied implications in farming environments, where high numbers of susceptible hosts are maintained in conditions of minimal environmental heterogeneity. We investigated how the quantity and quality of aquaculture enrichments (few vs. many stones; clean stones vs. stones conditioned in lake water) influenced the severity of infection of a pathogenic bacterium, Flavobacterium columnare, in salmonid fishes. We found that the conditioning of the stones significantly increased host survival in rearing tanks with few stones. A similar effect of increased host survival was also observed with a higher number of unconditioned stones. These results suggest that a simple increase in the heterogeneity of aquaculture environment can significantly reduce the impact of diseases, most likely operating through a reduction in pathogen transmission (stone quantity) and the formation of beneficial microbial communities (stone quality). This supports enriched rearing as an ecological and economic way to prevent bacterial infections with the minimal use of antimicrobials.

scholarly journals Timing and Route of Contamination of Patient Rooms With Healthcare-Associated Pathogens

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s412-s412
Author(s):  
Sarah Redmond ◽  
Jennifer Cadnum ◽  
Basya Pearlmutter ◽  
Natalia Pinto Herrera ◽  
Curtis Donskey
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Spa Typing ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Background: Transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a persistent problem in healthcare facilities despite current control measures. A better understanding of the routes of pathogen transmission is needed to develop effective control measures. Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study in an acute-care hospital to identify the timing and route of transfer of pathogens to rooms of newly admitted patients with negative MRSA nares results and no known carriage of other healthcare-associated pathogens. Rooms were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to patient admission. Interactions of patients with personnel and portable equipment were observed, and serial cultures for pathogens were collected from the skin of patients and from surfaces, including those observed to come in contact with personnel and equipment. For MRSA, spa typing was used to determine relatedness of patient and environmental isolates. Results: For the 17 patients enrolled, 1 or more environmental cultures became positive for MRSA in rooms of 10 patients (59%), for C. difficile in rooms of 2 patients (12%) and for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in rooms of 2 patients (12%). The patients interacted with an average of 2.4 personnel and 0.6 portable devices per hour of observation. As shown in Figure 1, MRSA contamination of the floor occurred rapidly as personnel entered the room. In a subset of patients, MRSA was subsequently recovered from patients’ socks and bedding and ultimately from the high-touch surfaces in the room (tray table, call button, bedrail). For several patients, MRSA isolates recovered from the floor had the same spa type as isolates subsequently recovered from other sites (eg, socks, bedding, and/or high touch surfaces). The direct transfer of healthcare-associated pathogens from personnel or equipment to high-touch surfaces was not detected. Conclusions: Healthcare-associated pathogens rapidly accumulate on the floor of patient rooms and can be transferred to the socks and bedding of patients and to high-touch surfaces. Healthcare facility floors may be an underappreciated source of pathogen dissemination not addressed by current infection control measures.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Association between ward-transfers and hospital-acquired infection: a study using routine data

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Boncea ◽  
P Expert ◽  
C Costelloe
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Hospital Acquired Infection ◽  
Hospital Acquired Infections ◽  
Hospital Trust ◽  
London Hospital ◽  
Hospital Acquired

Abstract Ward-transfers have become more common as hospital staff balance patient needs with bed availability on specific wards. However, increased movement through the hospital may leave patients more vulnerable to potential infectious pathogen transmission routes via increased exposure to contaminated surfaces and more contacts with individuals. This may increase their risk of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), an adverse event associated with greater antibiotic resistance, patient costs, morbidity, and mortality. This study aimed to quantify the association between the number of ward-transfers undergone during a hospital spell and the outcome of HAI. As elderly patients comprise a large proportion of hospital users and are a high-risk population for HAIs, analysis was focused on people over 65-years old. A retrospective case-control study was undertaken using data extracted from electronic health records and microbiology cultures of non-elective medical admissions to a London hospital trust between January 2016 and December 2018 (n = 24,439). Logistic regression was used to obtain the odds ratio for developing a HAI as a function of the number of ward-transfers until onset of HAI for cases, or hospital discharge for controls, while controlling for covariates including length of stay, procedures and comorbidities. Each additional ward-transfer increased the odds of developing a HAI by 8% (OR 1.08; 95%CI:1.04-1.12). The hospital is a complex environment, and interventions should be viewed in light of their impact on the system as a whole. These findings indicate that non-essential ward-transfers of elderly patients should be minimised. This may lower the incidence of infections in this population, potentially reduce the number of pathogen transmission routes in hospitals and alleviate staff burden incurred by ward-transfer associated procedures. Key messages We analysed 3 years of patient movement and microbiology data of elderly patients in a London hospital trust. Each ward-transfer increased the risk of developing a hospital-acquired infection by 8%. Reducing the number of non-essential ward-transfers patients undergo may lower the incidence of hospital-acquired infections; the decision to move a patient should therefore be carefully considered.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document