Cronobacter infections and the molecular properties and drug resistance of the clinical isolates in hospitalized patients in Wuhan area
Objective:To investigate the Cronobacter infections and its molecular properties and drug resistance of the clinical isolates in hospitalized patients in Wuhan area.Methods:One hundred and thirty-seven hospitalized patients with Cronobacter infection who were treated in the applicant's department in Wuhan First Hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 were selected as the study objects.The isolated Cronobacter strains from the patients were subjected to serotyping,molecular typing analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE),clonal group structural characteristics analysis and drug resistance tests.Results:Cronobacter infection was confirmed in 137 of the 483 patients,with a total positive rate of 28.36%.There was no statistically significant difference in positive rate between males and females(P>0.05).The highest positive rate was seen in younger patient group(0-6 years old)and in the pediatrics department.Meningitis was more secondary to the infection(all P<0.05).Serotype identification indicated O1 as the main serotype(36.50%;50/137).ST types primarily consisted of ST4 and ST1(40.15%,55/137;31.38%,43/137,respectively),while structural characteristics of CC mainly encompassed CC4 and CC7(32.85%,45/137;40.15%,55/137,respectively).After digestion with Xba Ⅰ and Spe Ⅰ,the samples were divided into 14 PFGE pattern types,among which BQ9,BQ11 and BQ12 exhibited a high similarity coefficient(98.0%).The drug resistance test results indicated that there was a strong resistance to ampicillin(67.15%),while all other tested antibiotics were found to be sensitive.No multidrug-resistant strains were detected.Conclusion:O1 type is the major serotype of Cronobacter infection in hospitalized patients in Wuhan area,and the molecular type of PFGE is rich and diverse.This bacteria can be strongly resistant to ampicillin.
Cronobacterclinical isolatesmolecular propertydrug resistanceWuhan area