[SCAN] Use of whole genome sequencing approaches to tackle antibiotic resistant bacteria in Portuguese hospitals
Nuno Faria
| When |
09 Feb, 2022
from
12:00 pm to 01:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Contact Name | Rita Abranches |
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Title: Use of whole genome sequencing approaches to tackle antibiotic resistant bacteria in Portuguese hospitals
Speaker: Nuno Faria
Abstract: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health and represents a challenge and a burden for hospital-associated infections. It is estimated that by 2050 AMR will represent the major cause of death, surpassing deaths by diabetes or cancer.
Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae are part of the so-called ESKAPE group of pathogens, which include bacteria that are the leading cause of nosocomial infections throughout the world, where antimicrobial resistant isolates represent a serious concern due to the limited treatment options available.
Multidrug resistant S. aureus and K. pneumoniae are also two of the most common invasive isolates in Portuguese hospitals. We have been using whole genome sequencing (WGS) approaches to assess the molecular epidemiology of these two bacterial pathogens in Portugal. The use of a technology with an unprecedented level of resolution has revealed new reservoirs, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and previously unknown features of the population structure and transmission patterns of these bacteria. Our results suggest that the implementation of WGS technology in Portuguese hospitals would be an added value for hospital infection control and treatment guidance.
