Two artificial tears outbreak-associated cases of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa detected through whole genome sequencing-based surveillance

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Apr 17:2023.04.11.23288417. doi: 10.1101/2023.04.11.23288417.

Abstract

We describe two cases of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection caused by a strain of public health concern recently associated with a nationwide outbreak of contaminated artificial tears. Both cases were detected through database review of genomes in the Enhanced Detection System for Hospital-Associated Transmission (EDS-HAT), a routine genome sequencing-based surveillance program. We generated a high-quality reference genome for the outbreak strain from one of the case isolates from our center and examined the mobile elements encoding bla VIM-80 and bla GES-9 carbapenemases. We then used publicly available P. aeruginosa genomes to explore the genetic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance genes of the outbreak strain.

Publication types

  • Preprint