The Genetic relatedness of Burkholderia contaminans clinical isolates from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients in Argentina

Authors

  • Lucia Cipolla Servicio Bacteriologia Especial, Departamento Bacteriologia, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Monica Prieto Servicio Bacteriologia Especial, Departamento Bacteriologia, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Diego Faccone Servicio Antimicrobianos, Departamento Bacteriologia, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.13928

Keywords:

Burkholderia contaminans, MALDI-TOF MS, PFGE, Burkholderia typing, recA, cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Introduction: The Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) bacteria are opportunistic pathogens that cause nosocomial infections and are especially dangerous for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Burkholderia contaminans is an emerging BCC species isolated from CF patients that also occurs as a contaminant in pharmaceutical and personal care products, sometimes linking it with outbreaks.

Methodology: A total of 55 B. contaminans isolates from CF and non-CF patients in Argentina were identified by recA sequencing and MALDI TOF MS. A standardized Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) protocol was set up in order to assess genetic diversity, outbreak investigations, and possible clone persistence.

Results: All isolates were identified as B. contaminans by both MALDI-TOF MS and recA sequence analysis. PFGE has enabled us to compare and determine the genetic relationship between B. contaminans isolates. Isolates were distributed in different PFGE clusters with evidence of the presence and persistence of a clone, over a period of 3 years, in the same hospital. This large hospital outbreak involved CF and non-CF patients. Moreover, PFGE results showed a good correlation between sporadic or outbreak-related isolates and the available epidemiological information.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of B. contaminans in Argentina and provide evidence for encouraging the surveillance of highly transmissible clones. The study also contributes to global knowledge about B. contaminans infections.

Author Biographies

Monica Prieto, Servicio Bacteriologia Especial, Departamento Bacteriologia, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Head Servicio Bacteriologia Especial, National Reference Laboratory Argentina 

Diego Faccone, Servicio Antimicrobianos, Departamento Bacteriologia, INEI-ANLIS “Dr. Carlos G. Malbran”, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Head Servicio Antimicrobianos, National Reference Laboratory Argentina

Downloads

Published

2022-05-30

How to Cite

1.
Cipolla L, Prieto M, Faccone D (2022) The Genetic relatedness of Burkholderia contaminans clinical isolates from cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis patients in Argentina. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:835–842. doi: 10.3855/jidc.13928

Issue

Section

Original Articles