10.26091/ESRNZ.8067002.v1
Glen P. Carter
Glen P.
Carter
James E. Ussher
James E.
Ussher
Anders Gonçalves da Silva
Anders Gonçalves
da Silva
Helen Heffernan
Helen
Heffernan
Thomas V. Riley
Thomas V.
Riley
Roland Broadbent
Roland
Broadbent
Antje van der Linden
Antje
van der Linden
Jean Lee
Jean
Lee
Ian R. Monk
Ian R.
Monk
Timothy P. Stinear
Timothy P.
Stinear
Benjamin P. Howden
Benjamin P.
Howden
Deborah A. Williamson
Deborah A.
Williamson
Genomic analysis of multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis associated with neonatal sepsis
Institute of Environmental Science and Research
2019
Coagulase-negative staphylococci
Genomics
Multidrug resistance
Neonates
Plasmids
Reduced Susceptibility
Aureus
Staphylococcus capitis
Resistance
New Zealand
Microbial Genetics
Microbiology
2019-05-02 04:25:38
Journal contribution
https://research.esr.cri.nz/articles/journal_contribution/Genomic_analysis_of_multiresistant_Staphylococcus_capitis_associated_with_neonatal_sepsis/8067002
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), such as Staphylococcus capitis, are major causes of bloodstream infections in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Recently, a distinct clone of S. capitis (designated S. capitis NRCS-A) has emerged as an important pathogen in NICUs internationally. Here, 122 S. capitis isolates from New Zealand (NZ) underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and these data were supplemented with publicly available S. capitis sequence reads. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were performed, as were phenotypic assessments of antimicrobial resistance, biofilm formation, and plasmid segregational stability on representative isolates. A distinct lineage of S. capitis was identified in NZ associated with neonates and the NICU environment. Isolates from this lineage produced increased levels of biofilm, displayed higher levels of tolerance to chlorhexidine, and were multidrug resistant. Although similar to globally circulating NICU-associated S. capitis strains at a core-genome level, NZ NICU S. capitis isolates carried a novel stably maintained multidrug-resistant plasmid that was not present in non-NICU isolates. Neonatal blood culture isolates were indistinguishable from environmental S. capitis isolates found on fomites, such as stethoscopes and neonatal incubators, but were generally distinct from those isolates carried by NICU staff. This work implicates the NICU environment as a potential reservoir for neonatal sepsis caused by S. capitis and highlights the capacity of genomics-based tracking and surveillance to inform future hospital infection control practices aimed at containing the spread of this important neonatal pathogen.