| Title: |
Impact of intensive care unit relocation on the transmission dynamics of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: a genetic epidemiology study |
| Authors: |
E, Qiannan; Wang, He; Wang, Yan; Li, Keke; Shi, Qingfeng; Cai, Ling; Zhang, Yinghua |
| Source: |
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ; volume 16 ; ISSN 2235-2988 |
| Publisher Information: |
Frontiers Media SA |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Frontiers (Publisher - via CrossRef) |
| Description: |
Introduction Intensive care unit (ICU) relocation provides a unique opportunity to assess the impact of environmental renewal on the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). This study aimed to utilize whole-genome sequencing (WGS) combined with epidemiological data to trace changes in the infection rate and transmission routes of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR Ab ) during ICU relocation, and to evaluate the concurrent implementation of infection control measures. Methods Clinical and environmental samples were prospectively collected from a tertiary care hospital in China across three phases: pre-relocation, post-relocation, and post-intervention. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of CR Ab isolates was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and the VITEK-2 system. WGS was performed on all isolates. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on core-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and potential transmission chains were inferred. Infection prevention and control indicators for MDROs were also monitored. Results A total of 11 CR Ab isolates were collected, comprising 10 from patient clinical samples and one from the surface of a disinfected mattress. All isolates demonstrated highly similar antimicrobial resistance profiles and carried a core set of resistance genes, including bla OXA-23, bla OXA-66, bla ADC-73, ant (3'')-IIa, adeB , adeG , and adeJ , with some also harboring bla TEM-1. All CR Ab isolates as sequence type 2 (ST2). Core-genome SNP phylogenetic analysis clustered the 11 isolates into two clades: Clade 1 contained three isolates, and Clade 2 contained eight isolates. This clustering was consistent with the distribution of resistance genes, and two possible transmission chains were constructed. Over the three-month period surrounding the ICU relocation, the CR Ab infection rate exhibited a decreasing trend, hand hygiene compliance improved gradually, and adherence to MDRO isolation protocols increased significantly following interventions by ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
unknown |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fcimb.2026.1729472 |
| DOI: |
10.3389/fcimb.2026.1729472/full |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1729472; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1729472/full |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.20E1FADC |
| Database: |
BASE |