Browsing by Author "Labecka, Linda"

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    Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Clinical Isolates of Enterococcus spp. Obtained from Hospital Patients in Latvia
    (2024-06) Labecka, Linda; Ķibilds, Juris; Cīrulis, Aivars; Čeirāne, Evelīna Diāna; Zeltiņa, Indra; Reinis, Aigars; Vilima, Barba; Rudzīte, Dace; Erts, Renārs; Mauliņa, Inga; Bandere, Dace; Krūmiņa, Angelika; Department of Infectology; Department of Biology and Microbiology; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
    Background and Objective: Enterococci are typically found in a healthy human gastrointestinal tract but can cause severe infections in immunocompromised patients. Such infections are treated with antibiotics. This study addresses the rising concern of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Enterococci, focusing on the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) strains. Materials and Methods: The pilot study involved 140 Enterococci isolates collected between 2021 and 2022 from two multidisciplinary hospitals (with and without local therapeutic drug monitoring protocol of vancomycin) in Latvia. Microbiological assays and whole genome sequencing were used. AMR gene prevalence with resistance profiles were determined and the genetic relationship and outbreak evaluation were made by applying core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST). Results: The acquired genes and mutations were responsible for resistance against 10 antimicrobial classes, including 25.0% of isolates expressing resistance to vancomycin, predominantly of the vanB type. Genetic diversity among E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates was observed and seven potential outbreak clusters were identified, three of them containing sequence types ST6, ST78 and ST80. The prevalence of vancomycin resistance was highest in the hospital without a therapeutic drug-monitoring protocol and in E. faecium. Notably, a case of linezolid resistance due to a mutation was documented.  Conclusions: The study illustrates the concerning prevalence of multidrug-resistant Enterococci in Latvian hospitals, showcasing the rather widespread occurrence of vancomycin-resistant strains. This highlights the urgency of implementing efficient infection control mechanisms and the need for continuous VRE surveillance in Latvia to define the scope and pattern of the problem, influencing clinical decision making and planning further preventative measures.
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    Evaluation of Genetic Diversity and Virulence Potential of Legionella pneumophila Isolated from Water Supply Systems of Residential Buildings in Latvia
    (2023-07) Valciņa, Olga; Pūle, Daina; Ķibilds, Juris; Labecka, Linda; Terentjeva, Margarita; Krūmiņa, Angelika; Bērziņš, Aivars; Department of Infectology
    Legionella is an opportunistic pathogen with a biphasic life cycle that occasionally infects humans. The aim of the study was to assess the distribution of virulence genes and genetic diversity among L. pneumophila isolated from water supply systems of residential buildings in Latvia. In total, 492 water samples from 200 residential buildings were collected. Identification of Legionella spp. was performed according to ISO 11731, and 58 isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. At least one Legionella-positive sample was found in 112 out of 200 apartment buildings (56.0%). The study revealed extensive sequence-type diversity, where 58 L. pneumophila isolates fell into 36 different sequence types. A total of 420 virulence genes were identified, of which 260 genes were found in all sequenced L. pneumophila isolates. The virulence genes enhC, htpB, omp28, and mip were detected in all isolates, suggesting that adhesion, attachment, and entry into host cells are enabled for all isolates. The relative frequency of virulence genes among L. pneumophila isolates was high. The high prevalence, extensive genetic diversity, and the wide range of virulence genes indicated that the virulence potential of environmental Legionella is high, and proper risk management is of key importance to public health.