Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

With increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance threats, there is an upsurge in the occurrence of community-acquired infections. The purpose of this study is to assess the ecology and prevalence of Enterococcus spp. and Acinetobacter spp. (that are well-known antibiotic resistant nosocomial pathogens) in the household environment. Each household sampling kit contained 5 swabs for each of shoe bottom, restroom, cleaning supply, kitchen top, and door step/handle as well as a demographic data sheet to be filled up. A total of 30 such kits (n=150) have been processed. The swabs were subjected to enrichment using selective media for test bacterial species. A panel of antibiotics were selected for testing using disc-diffusion method. Twenty-two out of 30 (73%) and 28/30 (93%) kits were positive for growth of Enterococcus spp. and Acinetobacter spp., respectively. Door steps, cleaning supplies, and shoe soles (13-20%) were less frequently contaminated with enterococci compared to that of kitchen tops (16/30, 53%) and restrooms (12/30, 40%). Although majority of the locations swabbed were contaminated with suspected Acinetobacter spp., door step/handles were free of any selected microbe. Overall, 102/150 (68%) of the swabbed surfaces were contaminated with Acinetobacter spp. in contrast to 43/150 (28%) with enterococci. Biochemical tests confirmed identity of 34% (140 out of 408) Acinetobacter and 71% (123/172) Enterococcus isolates at the genus level. Susceptibility testing revealed 41 of each of Acinetobacter and enterococcal isolates were resistant to 3-6 antibiotics. Multi-drug resistant isolates are being tested for their capability of forming biofilms in 96-well microtiter plates along with their amylase and protease production using agar-media based assays. The antibiotic-resistant isolates will be genotyped and compared to their relative nosocomial strains. The community will be outreached with recommended cleaning protocol and stewardship in antibiotic consumption and resistance. The outcome of this study may help facilitate effective and appropriate antibiotic treatment against community-acquired infections.

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