A highly contagious new type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that leads to severe illnesses may be spreading significantly throughout Asia, creating major challenges for global health, according to a recent study.
A newly identified and highly contagious strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria linked to severe diseases may be rapidly spreading across Asia, raising serious concerns for public health worldwide, as highlighted by a new study.
In their investigation into the impact of combined infection prevention and control (IPC) tactics on the transmission of CRAB, researchers found the ST164 variant of Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in a Chinese intensive care unit (ICU).
During a comprehensive three-month genomic study in the Hangzhou ICU in 2021, they discovered that 80.9% of the A. baumannii bacteria identified in patients were resistant to carbapenems, with ST164 being responsible for 40.2% of the samples.
In their report published in Nature Communications, the research team from the University of Birmingham and Zhejiang University indicated that other hospital areas and patients who were moved could be potential sources for new CRAB strains entering the ICU.
This latest study builds on their earlier research conducted in the Hangzhou ICU in 2019, which indicated that nearly one-third of patients were infected with CRAB.
Recent findings show that one strain type (GC2) among CRAB variations dropped from 99.5% in 2019 to 50.8% in 2021. Meanwhile, the remaining population primarily consisted of ST164 isolates that have been evolving since mid-2020 and exhibit double the level of resistance to carbapenems compared to GC2 strains.
Professor Alan McNally from the University of Birmingham, a co-author of the study, stated, “We think that ST164 is becoming firmly established in ICU environments and may be spreading broadly across Asia. Although ST164 caused fewer infections than GC2 during the study period, its heightened antibiotic resistance levels require vigilant monitoring.”
“CRAB is a significant danger for hospitalized individuals, leading to severe conditions such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bacteremia, meningitis, and soft tissue infections. Continuous IPC measures are essential to manage the spread of these bacteria in hospitals, and further research is necessary to comprehend how these strains evolve in clinical settings.”
This research received funding from the Medical Research Council and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. It involved high-resolution whole-genome sequencing and comparative analysis of CRAB strains.
CRAB can survive for long durations on medical equipment and hospital surfaces, and can colonize patients within 48 hours of admission. This rapid spread is aided by hospital staff, shared medical tools, airflow, and plumbing systems. Outbreaks of CRAB often necessitate changes in protocols or infrastructure, leading to clinical, logistical, and financial challenges.
Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a significant threat to global health. CRAB infections occur globally, with very few treatment options available, leading the World Health Organization to classify CRAB as a priority organism in urgent need of new treatment options.
Co-author Professor Willem van Schaik from the University of Birmingham emphasized, “The health implications of CRAB, particularly the ST164 strain, are significant, impacting patient outcomes, healthcare systems, and global public health. In the absence of new treatment alternatives, effective CRAB IPC strategies are crucial to reduce the illness and death caused by this bacteria in hospitals. Additionally, our study showcases the importance of genomic surveillance in tracking the rise and spread of this drug-resistant strain.”
