Short Communication: Low Prevalence of Clinically Important Antibiotic-Resistant Strains among Non-Pathogenic Genera of the Tribe Klebsielleae

Abstract

Hafnia sp. and Serratia sp. belong to the Tribe Klebsielleae; although they are not considered pathogenic bacteria, there are many documented cases of diseases caused by these microorganisms. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of strains belonging to the genus Hafnia and Serratia isolated from fish and shrimps. Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was determined using the semi-automatic Vitek 2 system (bioMérieux, Marcy-l'Étoile, France), while the presence of the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, AmpC beta-lactamases, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases and Metallo-β-Lactamase producing strains were determined using the MIC Test Strip (Liofilchem, Roseto degli Abbruzzi, Italy). As a result of the conducted research, it was observed that a vast number of Hafnia sp. strains were resistant to cefalexin (84.61%), while Serratia sp. Strains to cefuroxime (79.41%) and nitrofurantoin (85.29%). In addition, it was observed that of all strains, only one had an ability to produce enzymes typical for β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales. Although the strains of Hafnia sp. and Serratia sp. isolated from fish and shrimp are not characterized by frequent resistance to antibiotics, taking into account the constantly growing number of antibiotic-resistant strains, this may be a problem in the future, mainly due to gene transfer through mobile genetic elements and the acquisition of resistance expressed phenotypically through contact with stress factors. Therefore, studies monitoring the antibiotic resistance profile of these species should be carried out on a regular basis.

Keywords: Hafnia sp.; Klebsielleae; Serratia sp.; antibiotic resistance.

Figure 1

Antibiotic resistance profile of H. alvei strains; amikacin (AK), cefotaxime (CTX), cefoxitin (FOX), cephalexin (CN), meropenem (MEM), cefuroxime (CXM), gentamicin (GEN), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR), ceftazidime (CAZ), cefepime (FEP), ertapenem (ETP), nitrofurantoin (FT), piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), cefotaxime and cefotaxime + clavulanic acid (CTX/CTL), ceftazidime/ceftazidime + clavulanic acid (CAZ/CAL), cefepime/cefepime + clavulanic acid (FEP/FEL), cefotetan (CTT)/cefotetan + cloxacillin (CXT), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + cloxacillin (ECX), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + phenylboronic acid (EBO), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + phenylboronic acid (EBO), meropenem (MRP)/meropenem + phenylboronic acid (MBO, imipenem (IMI)/imipenem + EDTA (IMD), meropenem (MRP)/meropenem + EDTA (MRD). For antibiotics: filled shape-resistance, shape outline-intermediate, shape completely omitted-sensitive, for mechanisms: filled shape-positive, shape outline-negative. Strains antibiogram visualized using iTOL.

Figure 2

Antibiotic resistance profile of Serratia sp. strains; amikacin (AK), cefotaxime (CTX), cefoxitin (FOX), cephalexin (CN), meropenem (MEM), cefuroxime (CXM), gentamicin (GEN), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR), ceftazidime (CAZ), cefepime (FEP), ertapenem (ETP), nitrofurantoin (FT), piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), cefotaxime and cefotaxime + clavulanic acid (CTX/CTL), ceftazidime/ceftazidime + clavulanic acid (CAZ/CAL), cefepime/cefepime + clavulanic acid (FEP/FEL), cefotetan (CTT)/cefotetan + cloxacillin (CXT), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + cloxacillin (ECX), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + phenylboronic acid (EBO), ertapenem (ETP)/ertapenem + phenylboronic acid (EBO), meropenem (MRP)/meropenem + phenylboronic acid (MBO, imipenem (IMI)/imipenem + EDTA (IMD), meropenem (MRP)/meropenem + EDTA (MRD). For antibiotics: filled shape-resistance, shape outline-intermediate, shape completely omitted-sensitive, for mechanisms: filled shape-positive, shape outline-negative. Strains antibiogram visualized using iTOL.