In this study whole genome sequencing was used to characterize ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolates from clinical human samples from Finland. These isolates were compared to previously sequenced ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli isolates from various non-human sources from Finland, including animal, food, and environmental sources, to assess the potential similarities and differences between the isolates. The antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes, bacterial sequence types, and plasmid replicons were compared to investigate the potential zoonotic connections. CTX-M-27 was identified as the most common ESBL enzyme type from E. coli from Finnish patient samples, and ESBL-producing E. coli originating from patient samples were found to be genetically different from ESBL-producing E. coli of non-human sources.
The study received funding from the Finnish Foundation for Veterinary Research and the Doctoral School of Environmental, Food and Biological Sciences in University of Helsinki.
The published article can be found at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.789280