• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.545-554
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• 2018

Background: The increasing morbidity and mortality rates associated with Acinetobacter baumannii are due to the emergence of drug resistance and the limited treatment options. We compared characteristics of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB) clinical isolates recovered from patients with and without prior colistin treatment. We assessed whether prior colistin treatment affects the resistance mechanism of CR-AB isolates, mortality rates, and clinical characteristics. Additionally, a proper method for identifying CR-AB was determined. Methods: We collected 36 non-duplicate CR-AB clinical isolates resistant to colistin. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Sanger sequencing analysis, molecular typing, lipid A structure analysis, and in vitro synergy testing were performed. Eleven colistin-susceptible AB isolates were used as controls. Results: Despite no differences in clinical characteristics between patients with and without prior colistin treatment, resistance-causing genetic mutations were more frequent in isolates from colistin-treated patients. Distinct mutations were overlooked via the Sanger sequencing method, perhaps because of a masking effect by the colistin-susceptible AB subpopulation of CR-AB isolates lacking genetic mutations. However, modified lipid A analysis revealed colistin resistance peaks, despite the population heterogeneity, and peak levels were significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Although prior colistin use did not induce clinical or susceptibility differences, we demonstrated that identification of CR-AB by sequencing is insufficient. We propose that population heterogeneity has a masking effect, especially in colistin non-treated patients; therefore, accurate testing methods reflecting physiological alterations of the bacteria, such as phosphoethanolamine-modified lipid A identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight, should be employed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권9호
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• pp.1620-1628
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated colistin resistance mechanisms associated with the regulation of the pbgP operon in Klebsiella pneumoniae, using four isogenic pairs of colistin-susceptible strains and their colistin-resistant derivatives and two colistin-resistant clinical isolates. Amino acid sequence alterations of PhoPQ, PmrAB, and MgrB were investigated, and mRNA expression levels of phoQ, pmrB, pmrD, and pbgP were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The phoQ and pmrB genes were deleted from two colistin-resistant derivatives, 134R and 063R. We found that phoQ, pmrD, and pbgP were significantly upregulated in all colistin-resistant derivatives. However, pmrB was significantly upregulated in only two colistin-resistant derivatives and one clinical strain. pmrB was not overexpressed in the other strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration of colistin was drastically lower in both phoQ- and pmrB-deleted mutants from a colistin-resistant derivative (134R) that was overexpressing phoQ and pmrB. However, colistin susceptibility was restored only in a phoQ-deleted mutant from a colistin-resistant derivative (063R) without overexpression of pmrB. In conclusion, two different regulations of the pbgP operon may associate with the development of colistinresisant K. pneumoniae.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권5호
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• pp.68.1-68.15
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• 2021

Background: Colistin and carbapenem-resistant bacteria have emerged and become a serious public health concern, but their epidemiological data is still limited. Objectives: This study examined colistin and carbapenem resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella from pigs, pig carcasses, and pork in Thailand, Lao PDR, and Cambodia border provinces. Methods: The phenotypic and genotypic resistance to colistin and meropenem was determined in E. coli and Salmonella obtained from pigs, pig carcasses, and pork (n = 1,619). A conjugative experiment was performed in all isolates carrying the mcr gene (s) (n = 68). The plasmid replicon type was determined in the isolates carrying a conjugative plasmid with mcr by PCR-based replicon typing (n = 7). The genetic relatedness of mcr-positive Salmonella (n = 11) was investigated by multi-locus sequence typing. Results: Colistin resistance was more common in E. coli (8%) than Salmonella (1%). The highest resistance rate was found in E. coli (17.8%) and Salmonella (1.7%) from Cambodia. Colistin-resistance genes, mcr-1, mcr-3, and mcr-5, were identified, of which mcr-1 and mcr-3 were predominant in E. coli (5.8%) and Salmonella (1.7%), respectively. The mcr-5 gene was observed in E. coli from pork in Cambodia. Two colistin-susceptible pig isolates from Thailand carried both mcr-1 and mcr-3. Seven E. coli and Salmonella isolates contained mcr-1 or mcr-3 associated with the IncF and IncI plasmids. The mcr-positive Salmonella from Thailand and Cambodia were categorized into two clusters with 94%-97% similarity. None of these clusters was meropenem resistant. Conclusions: Colistin-resistant E. coli and Salmonella were distributed in pigs, pig carcasses, and pork in the border areas. Undivided-One Health collaboration is needed to address the issue.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.101-108
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• 1975

The susceptibility of 536 isolates of Staphylococcus and 313 isolates of Streptococcus to a number of chemotherapeutics were studied. These organisms were isolated from bovine mastitis during 1973 and 1974. In addition to this, the rate of multiple resistance of 425 isolates of Staphylococcus and 164 isolates of Streptococcus, isolated in 1974, to the chemotherapeutics was analysed. The results obtained in this work were summerized as follows: 1. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus isolated in 1974 showed a higher resistance, with 3 exceptions of chemotherapeutics, than the isolates of 1973. 2. Staphylococcus isolated in 1973 and 1974 showed a higher susceptibility than Streptococcus. 3. The strains of Staphylococcus resistant to colistin were 39 strains (9.2%), to colistin and sulfisoxazole 33 (7.8%), to streptomycin, kanamycin, colistin and sulfisoxazole 20 (4.7%), and to penicillin, colistin and sulfisoxazole 18 (4.2%). 4. The strains of Streptococcus resistant to colistin were 17 strains (10.4%), to streptomycin, kanamycin, colistin and sulfisoxazole 13 (7.9%), to colistin and sulfisoxazole 11 (6.7%) and to penicillin, colistin and sulfisoxazole 11 (6.7%).

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.555-562
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• 2018

Background: The emerging mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, is an ongoing worldwide concern and an evaluation of clinical isolates harboring this gene is required in Korea. We investigated mcr-1-possessing Enterobacteriaceae among Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in Korea, and compared the genetic details of the plasmids with those in Escherichia coli isolates from livestock. Methods: Among 9,396 Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates collected between 2010 and 2015, 1,347 (14.3%) strains were resistant to colistin and those were screened for mcr-1 by PCR. Colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by microdilution, and conjugal transfer of the mcr-1-harboring plasmids was assessed by direct mating. Whole genomes of three mcr-1-positive Enterobacteriaceae clinical isolates and 11 livestock-origin mcr-1-positive E. coli isolates were sequenced. Results: Two E. coli and one Enterobacter aerogenes clinical isolates carried carried IncI2 plasmids harboring mcr-1, which conferred colistin resistance (E. coli MIC, 4 mg/L; E. aerogenes MIC, 32 mg/L). The strains possessed the complete conjugal machinery except for E. aerogenes harboring a truncated prepilin peptidase. The E. coli plasmid transferred more efficiently to E. coli than to Klebsiella pneumoniae or Enterobacter cloacae recipients. Among the three bacterial hosts, the colistin MIC was the highest for E. coli owing to the higher mcr-1-plasmid copy number and mcr-1 expression levels. Ten mcr-1-positive chicken-origin E. coli strains also possessed mcr-1-harboring IncI2 plasmids closely related to that in the clinical E. aerogenes isolate, and the remaining one porcine-origin E. coli possessed an mcr-1-harboring IncX4 plasmid. Conclusions: mcr-1-harboring IncI2 plasmids were identified in clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates. These plasmids were closely associated with those in chicken-origin E. coli strains in Korea, supporting the concept of mcr-1 dissemination between humans and livestock.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most concerns in pig industry. Escherichia (E.) coli have been used for the indicator to monitor the antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 321 E. coli from diarrheic and non-diarrheic piglets were tested for antimicrobial resistance and frequency of $Bla_{TEM}$. In non-diarrheic piglets, they were resistant to oxytetracycline (93%), streptomycin (92%) and sulfadiazine (90%) but susceptible to ceftiofur (99%), colistin (97%), and enrofloxacin (82%). The isolates from diarrheic piglets were resistant to enrofloxacin (72.9%), ceftiofur (17.6%), and colistin (11.3%), whereas the resistance was 1%, 18% and 3% in case of non-diarrheic piglets, respectively. The resistance for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (54.1%) and ceftiofur (22%) was high in isolates from post-weaning piglets. The resistance for colistin was 15.2% in nursery piglets. Seventy-three percent of isolates from diarrheic piglets showed high multidrug resistance profile (more than 13 antimicrobials) compared to those from non-diarrheic pigs in which 71% of isolates showed moderate multidrug resistance profile (7 to 12 antimicrobials). The frequency of $Bla_{TEM}$ in E. coli from non-diarrheic and diarrheic piglets was 57% and 69%, respectively. The results might provide the basic knowledge to establish the strategies for treatment and reduce antibiotic resistance of E. coli in piglets.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1862-1869
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• 2020

The spread of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance has posed a serious threat to public health owing to its effects on the emergence of pandrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we investigated the prevalence and characteristics of mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolated from retail meat samples in Korea. In total, 1,205 E. coli strains were isolated from 3,234 retail meat samples in Korea. All E. coli strains were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and were examined for the presence of mcr-1 gene. All mcr-1-positive E. coli (n = 10, 0.8%) from retail meat were subjected to pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The transferability of mcr-1 gene was determined by conjugation assays. The mcr-1-positive strains exhibited diverse clonal types. Our mcr-1 genes were located in plasmids belonged to the IncI2 (n = 1) and IncX4 (n = 8) types, which were reported to be prevalent in Asia and worldwide, respectively. Most mcr-1 genes from mcr-1-positive strains (9/10) were transferable to the recipient strain and the transfer frequencies ranged from 2.4 × 10-3 to 9.8 × 10-6. Our data suggest that the specific types of plasmid may play an important role in spreading plasmid-mediated colistin resistance in Korea. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the retail meat may be an important tool for disseminating plasmid-mediated colistin resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.358-363
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• 2007

Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been implicated in a variety of serious therapeutic problems in clinical environments. Among the 968 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from two hospitals in Daegu, Korea, we acquired 17 isolates that were resistant to all available tested antimicrobial agents, with the exception of colistin (colistin-only sensitive). We characterized the antimicrobial susceptibilities, $metallo-{\beta}-lactamases$, and epidemiological relatedness among the colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa isolates. All colistin-only sensitive isolates were positive in the modified Hodge test and imipenem-EDTA synergy test, thereby indicating the production of $metallo-{\beta}-lactamases$. 11 isolates from the secondary hospital and six isolates from the tertiary teaching hospital harbored $bla_{VIM-2}$ and $bla_{IMP-1}$, respectively. The pulsed-field gel electrophoretic analysis of the SpeI-digested DNA from P. aeruginosa isolates indicated that two different clones of colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa originated from each hospital, and had spread within the hospital environment. Overall, colistin-only sensitive P. aeruginosa was detected in Korea for the first time, but no pan-drug resistant bacteria were identified. Nationwide surveillance is required in order to monitor the emergence of colistin-only sensitive or pan-drug resistant bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.733-739
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• 2021

Acinetobacter strains are widely present in the environment. Some antimicrobial-resistant strains of this genus have been implicated in infections acquired in hospitals. Genetic similarities have been reported between Acinetobacter strains in nosocomial infections and those isolated from foods. However, the antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter strains in foods, such as meat, remains unclear. This study initially aimed to isolate Campylobacter strains; instead, strains of the genus Acinetobacter were isolated from meat products, and their antimicrobial resistance was investigated. In total, 58 Acinetobacter strains were isolated from 381 meat samples. Of these, 32 strains (38.6%) were from beef, 22 (26.5%) from pork, and 4 (4.8%) from duck meat. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed that 12 strains were resistant to more than one antimicrobial agent, whereas two strains were multidrug-resistant; both strains were resistant to colistin. Cephalosporin antimicrobials showed high minimal inhibitory concentration against Acinetobacter strains. Resfinder analysis showed that one colistin-resistant strain carried mcr-4.3; this plasmid type was not confirmed, even when analyzed with PlasmidFinder. Analysis of the contig harboring mcr-4.3 using BLAST confirmed that this contig was related to mcr-4.3 of Acinetobacter baumannii. The increase in antimicrobial resistance in food production environments increases the resistance rate of Acinetobacter strains present in meat, inhibits the isolation of Campylobacter strains, and acts as a medium for the transmission of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance in food products.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

연구배경: Acinetobacter baumannii는 항생제에 대한 내성균이 자주 발생하며 MDR Acinetobacter baumannii 감염의 치료 시 항생제 선택에 어려움이 있다. Colistin은 그람 음성균에 효과적이며 MDR Acinetobacter균에 감수성을 보이나 전신투여 시 신독성, 신경독성 등의 부작용으로 인해 잘 쓰이지 않는 약제이다. 전신투여에 의한 부작용을 회피하는 방법으로 분무치료가 있다. 그러나 MDR Acinetobacter baumannii 페렴환자에서 colistin 분무치료의 효과와 부작용에 대한 국내연구는 부족한 실정이어서 저자들은 다음과 같은 연구를 시행하였다. 방법: 2006년 12월부터 2007년 8월까지 중환자실의 폐렴환자 중에서 호흡기검체 배양검사를 통해 imipenem에 내성을 포함한 MDR Acinetobacter baumannii균에 의한 폐렴이 진단된 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 이들 중 항생제 정맥주사와 더불어 하루 3번의 colistin 분무치료를 시행했던 환자들의 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하여 임상 소견, 신기능, 인공호흡기의 최대기도압의 변화를 분석 하였다 결과: 총 31명의 환자에서 colistin 분무치료를 시행하였다. Colistin 사용기간은 $14{\pm}7$일이었으며, 하루 흡입용량은 225~300 mg이었다. Colistin 분무치료 후 25명/31명(80.6%)에서 Acinetobacter균이 제거되었으나 이 중 11명(44%)에서는 2차 감염에 의한 새로운 균이 배양되었다. Colistin 분무치료 전, 후로 백혈구 수는 감소하였다. Colistin 분무치료 후 신기능의 장애는 발생하지 않았으며 의미 있는 기관지경련의 소견도 관찰되지 않았다. 결론: 적절한 항생제를 선택하기 어려운 MDR Acinetobacter baumanii에 의한 폐렴을 치료하는데 colistin 분무치료는 비교적 높은 균 제거율과 낮은 부작용을 보이므로 고려해 볼 수 있는 치료방법으로 사료된다.