Who critical priority escherichia coli in Latin America: A one health challenge for a post-pandemic world

Lincopan N.; Fuentes-Castillo D.; Espinoza-Muñoz M.; Gonzales-Zubiate F.; Gonzales-Escalante E.; Maturrano L.; Vignoli R.; Conza J.; Gutkind G. · Trending Topics in Escherichia coli Research: The Latin American Perspective (2023) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-29882-0_1

Resumen

The dissemination of carbapenem-resistant and third generation cephalosporin-resistant pathogens, classified as priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a critical issue that is no longer restricted to hospital settings. In this regard, in Escherichia coli, resistance to these last resort β-lactam antibiotics is mediated by the production of carbapenemases and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). In South American countries, several types of ESBLs have been detected, including TEM-, SHV-, and CTX-M-type variants (e.g., CTX-M-2,-3,-8,-9,-14,-15,-27,-55,-65). However, CTX-M has been the most widespread ESBL group. Endemic status of CTX-M-positive E. coli strains in the region is associated with the successful expansion of international clones belonging to sequence types (STs) ST2, ST10, ST38, ST44, ST58, ST90, ST115, ST131, ST155, ST167, ST224, ST354, ST410, ST457, ST517, ST648, and ST711, which are shared between human and animal (pets, wildlife, and food-producing) hosts, and polluted aquatic environments. Regarding carbapenem resistance, the increased frequency of reports on carbapenemases in Latin America shows that they have successfully spread, becoming endemic in some countries, such as Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil. In this respect, carbapenem-resistant E. coli belonging to global ST10, ST48, ST90, ST131, ST155, ST167, ST224, ST349, ST354, ST457, ST502, ST648, ST730, and ST744 clones have been isolated from humans, in association with the production of KPC-2 or NDM-1 carbapenemases. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a major concern has been the appearance of more virulent and resistant E. coli strains. The convergence of wide resistome and virulome is contributing to the persistence and rapid spread of international high-risk clones of critical priority E. coli at the human-animal-environmental interface, which must be considered a One Health challenge for a post-pandemic scenario. Here, we present updated information on the status of WHO critical priority E. coli in Latin America. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad de Piura