Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study

Shukrani Phillip; Martha F. Mushi; Arun Gonzales Decano; Jeremiah Seni; Blandina T. Mmbaga; Happiness Kumburu; Eveline T. Konje; Joseph R. Mwanga; Benson R. Kidenya; Betrand Msemwa; Stephen Gillespie; Antonio Maldonado-Barragan; Alison Sandeman; Wilber Sabiti; Mathew T. G. Holden; Stephen E. Mshana

doi:10.3390/pathogens12020180

Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study

Shukrani Phillip, Martha F. Mushi^*, Arun Gonzales Decano, Jeremiah Seni, Blandina T. Mmbaga, Happiness Kumburu, Eveline T. Konje, Joseph R. Mwanga, Benson R. Kidenya, Betrand Msemwa, Stephen Gillespie, Antonio Maldonado-Barragan, Alison Sandeman, Wilber Sabiti, Mathew T. G. Holden, Stephen E. Mshana

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background: There is a growing body of evidence on the potential involvement of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) in causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to delineate virulence potential, antimicrobial resistance genes, and sequence types of CoNS isolated from patients with UTI symptoms and pyuria in Tanzania.

Methods: CoNS from patients with UTI symptoms and more than 125 leucocytes/μL were retrieved, subcultured, and whole-genome sequenced.

Results: Out of 65 CoNS isolates, 8 species of CoNS were identified; Staphylococcus haemolyticus, n = 27 (41.5%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis, n = 24 (36.9%), were predominant. The majority of S. haemolyticus were sequence type (ST) 30, with 8 new ST138-145 reported, while the majority of S. epidermidis were typed as ST490 with 7 new ST1184-1190 reported. Sixty isolates (92.3%) had either one or multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. The most frequently detected resistance genes were 53 (21%) dfrG, 32 (12.9%) blaZ, and 26 (10.5%) mecA genes conferring resistance to trimethoprim, penicillin, and methicillin, respectively. Out of 65 isolates, 59 (90.8%) had virulence genes associated with UTI, with a predominance of the icaC 47 (46.5%) and icaA 14 (13.9%) genes.

Conclusion: S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis harboring icaC, dfrG, blaZ, and mecA genes were the predominant CoNS causing UTI in Tanzania. Laboratories should carefully interpret the significant bacteriuria due to CoNS in relation to UTI symptoms and pyuria before labeling them as contaminants. Follow-up studies to document the outcome of the treated patients is needed to add more evidence that CoNS are UTI pathogens.

Original language	English
Article number	180
Number of pages	12
Journal	Pathogens
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020180
Publication status	Published - 24 Jan 2023

Keywords

S. epidermidis
S. haemolyticus
icaC virulence genes
genes for AMR

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Copyright: © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Phillip, S., Mushi, M. F., Decano, A. G., Seni, J., Mmbaga, B. T., Kumburu, H., Konje, E. T., Mwanga, J. R., Kidenya, B. R., Msemwa, B., Gillespie, S., Maldonado-Barragan, A., Sandeman, A., Sabiti, W., Holden, M. T. G., & Mshana, S. E. (2023). Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study. Pathogens, 12(2), Article 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020180

@article{939b0b36e7ee4a369c5fc251bfaaf2e1,

title = "Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study",

abstract = "Background: There is a growing body of evidence on the potential involvement of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) in causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to delineate virulence potential, antimicrobial resistance genes, and sequence types of CoNS isolated from patients with UTI symptoms and pyuria in Tanzania. Methods: CoNS from patients with UTI symptoms and more than 125 leucocytes/μL were retrieved, subcultured, and whole-genome sequenced. Results: Out of 65 CoNS isolates, 8 species of CoNS were identified; Staphylococcus haemolyticus, n = 27 (41.5%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis, n = 24 (36.9%), were predominant. The majority of S. haemolyticus were sequence type (ST) 30, with 8 new ST138-145 reported, while the majority of S. epidermidis were typed as ST490 with 7 new ST1184-1190 reported. Sixty isolates (92.3%) had either one or multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. The most frequently detected resistance genes were 53 (21%) dfrG, 32 (12.9%) blaZ, and 26 (10.5%) mecA genes conferring resistance to trimethoprim, penicillin, and methicillin, respectively. Out of 65 isolates, 59 (90.8%) had virulence genes associated with UTI, with a predominance of the icaC 47 (46.5%) and icaA 14 (13.9%) genes. Conclusion: S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis harboring icaC, dfrG, blaZ, and mecA genes were the predominant CoNS causing UTI in Tanzania. Laboratories should carefully interpret the significant bacteriuria due to CoNS in relation to UTI symptoms and pyuria before labeling them as contaminants. Follow-up studies to document the outcome of the treated patients is needed to add more evidence that CoNS are UTI pathogens.",

keywords = "S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, icaC virulence genes, genes for AMR",

author = "Shukrani Phillip and Mushi, {Martha F.} and Decano, {Arun Gonzales} and Jeremiah Seni and Mmbaga, {Blandina T.} and Happiness Kumburu and Konje, {Eveline T.} and Mwanga, {Joseph R.} and Kidenya, {Benson R.} and Betrand Msemwa and Stephen Gillespie and Antonio Maldonado-Barragan and Alison Sandeman and Wilber Sabiti and Holden, {Mathew T. G.} and Mshana, {Stephen E.}",

note = "Funding: This study is part of the Holistic Approach to Unravel Antibacterial Resistance in East Africa (HATUA) project funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health and Social Care, Award (MR/S004785/1).",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

day = "24",

doi = "10.3390/pathogens12020180",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "Pathogens",

issn = "2076-0817",

publisher = "MDPI AG",

number = "2",

}

Phillip, S, Mushi, MF, Decano, AG, Seni, J, Mmbaga, BT, Kumburu, H, Konje, ET, Mwanga, JR, Kidenya, BR, Msemwa, B, Gillespie, S, Maldonado-Barragan, A, Sandeman, A , Sabiti, W , Holden, MTG & Mshana, SE 2023, 'Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study', Pathogens, vol. 12, no. 2, 180. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020180

TY - JOUR

T1 - Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania

T2 - a laboratory-based cross-sectional study

AU - Phillip, Shukrani

AU - Mushi, Martha F.

AU - Decano, Arun Gonzales

AU - Seni, Jeremiah

AU - Mmbaga, Blandina T.

AU - Kumburu, Happiness

AU - Konje, Eveline T.

AU - Mwanga, Joseph R.

AU - Kidenya, Benson R.

AU - Msemwa, Betrand

AU - Gillespie, Stephen

AU - Maldonado-Barragan, Antonio

AU - Sandeman, Alison

AU - Sabiti, Wilber

AU - Holden, Mathew T. G.

AU - Mshana, Stephen E.

N1 - Funding: This study is part of the Holistic Approach to Unravel Antibacterial Resistance in East Africa (HATUA) project funded by the National Institute for Health Research, Medical Research Council and the Department of Health and Social Care, Award (MR/S004785/1).

PY - 2023/1/24

Y1 - 2023/1/24

N2 - Background: There is a growing body of evidence on the potential involvement of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) in causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to delineate virulence potential, antimicrobial resistance genes, and sequence types of CoNS isolated from patients with UTI symptoms and pyuria in Tanzania. Methods: CoNS from patients with UTI symptoms and more than 125 leucocytes/μL were retrieved, subcultured, and whole-genome sequenced. Results: Out of 65 CoNS isolates, 8 species of CoNS were identified; Staphylococcus haemolyticus, n = 27 (41.5%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis, n = 24 (36.9%), were predominant. The majority of S. haemolyticus were sequence type (ST) 30, with 8 new ST138-145 reported, while the majority of S. epidermidis were typed as ST490 with 7 new ST1184-1190 reported. Sixty isolates (92.3%) had either one or multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. The most frequently detected resistance genes were 53 (21%) dfrG, 32 (12.9%) blaZ, and 26 (10.5%) mecA genes conferring resistance to trimethoprim, penicillin, and methicillin, respectively. Out of 65 isolates, 59 (90.8%) had virulence genes associated with UTI, with a predominance of the icaC 47 (46.5%) and icaA 14 (13.9%) genes. Conclusion: S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis harboring icaC, dfrG, blaZ, and mecA genes were the predominant CoNS causing UTI in Tanzania. Laboratories should carefully interpret the significant bacteriuria due to CoNS in relation to UTI symptoms and pyuria before labeling them as contaminants. Follow-up studies to document the outcome of the treated patients is needed to add more evidence that CoNS are UTI pathogens.

AB - Background: There is a growing body of evidence on the potential involvement of coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) in causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this study was to delineate virulence potential, antimicrobial resistance genes, and sequence types of CoNS isolated from patients with UTI symptoms and pyuria in Tanzania. Methods: CoNS from patients with UTI symptoms and more than 125 leucocytes/μL were retrieved, subcultured, and whole-genome sequenced. Results: Out of 65 CoNS isolates, 8 species of CoNS were identified; Staphylococcus haemolyticus, n = 27 (41.5%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis, n = 24 (36.9%), were predominant. The majority of S. haemolyticus were sequence type (ST) 30, with 8 new ST138-145 reported, while the majority of S. epidermidis were typed as ST490 with 7 new ST1184-1190 reported. Sixty isolates (92.3%) had either one or multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. The most frequently detected resistance genes were 53 (21%) dfrG, 32 (12.9%) blaZ, and 26 (10.5%) mecA genes conferring resistance to trimethoprim, penicillin, and methicillin, respectively. Out of 65 isolates, 59 (90.8%) had virulence genes associated with UTI, with a predominance of the icaC 47 (46.5%) and icaA 14 (13.9%) genes. Conclusion: S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis harboring icaC, dfrG, blaZ, and mecA genes were the predominant CoNS causing UTI in Tanzania. Laboratories should carefully interpret the significant bacteriuria due to CoNS in relation to UTI symptoms and pyuria before labeling them as contaminants. Follow-up studies to document the outcome of the treated patients is needed to add more evidence that CoNS are UTI pathogens.

KW - S. epidermidis

KW - S. haemolyticus

KW - icaC virulence genes

KW - genes for AMR

UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/180

U2 - 10.3390/pathogens12020180

DO - 10.3390/pathogens12020180

M3 - Article

SN - 2076-0817

VL - 12

JO - Pathogens

JF - Pathogens

IS - 2

M1 - 180

ER -

Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Prof M Holden MRC: Holistic approach to unravel antibacterial resistance in East Africa (HATUA)

Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania (dataset)

Cite this

Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania: a laboratory-based cross-sectional study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Prof M Holden MRC: Holistic approach to unravel antibacterial resistance in East Africa (HATUA)

Datasets

Molecular characterizations of the coagulase-negative staphylococci species causing urinary tract infection in Tanzania (dataset)

Cite this