Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFII plasmid

Outbreak of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Shigella flexneri in northern Australia due to an endemic regional clone acquiring an IncFII plasmid Journal Article

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

• Author(s): Guglielmino, Christine J. D., Kakkanat, Asha, Forde, Brian M., Rubenach, Sally, Merone, Lea, Stafford, Russell, Graham, Rikki M. A., Beatson, Scott A., Jennison, Amy V.
• Published: 2020
• ISBN: 1435-4373

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: Epidemiological surveillance of Shigella spp. in Australia is conducted to inform public health response. Multi-drug resistance has recently emerged as a contributing factor to sustained local transmission of Shigella spp. All data were collected as part of routine public health surveillance, and strains were whole-genome sequenced for further molecular characterisation. 108 patients with an endemic regional Shigella flexneri strain were identified between 2016 and 2019. The S. flexneri phylogroup 3 strain endemic to northern Australia acquired a multi-drug resistance conferring blaDHA plasmid, which has an IncFII plasmid backbone with virulence and resistance elements typically found in IncR plasmids. This is the first report of multi-drug resistance in Shigella sp. in Australia that is not associated with men who have sex with men. This strain caused an outbreak of multi-drug-resistant S. flexneri in northern Australia that disproportionality affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Community controlled public health action is recommended.

• Urls: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-04029-w