Phylogenetic analysis of resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam and carbapenems in piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis patients

• Published in: International journal of antimicrobial agents 2019-06, Vol.53 (6), p.774-780
• Main Authors: Zamudio, Roxana, Hijazi, Karolin, Joshi, Chaitanya, Aitken, Emma, Oggioni, Marco R., Gould, Ian M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ampC; AmpD; Ceftazidime/avibactam; Ceftolozane/tazobactam; Cystic fibrosis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• ISSN: 0924-8579; 1872-7913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.02.022

•Phylogenetic analysis of resistance in cystic fibrosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa.•AmpC variations are associated with high-level cloxacillin-insensitive ceftazidime resistance.•AmpD variations are associated with ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam double resistance.•Mutational resistance emerged in phylogenetically separate lineages.•Mutation-driven evolution in the population structure of P. aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important pathogens in cystic fibrosis. This study was conducted to analyse the genetic basis and phylogenetic profile of resistance to ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam and carbapenems in cystic fibrosis P. aeruginosa isolates. Whole genome sequence analysis was conducted of isolates resistant to piperacillin/tazobactam collected from seven hospitals in Scotland since the introduction of these two cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Ceftazidime resistance was primarily related to AmpC induction, as tested by cloxacillin inhibition assays, while high-level ceftazidime resistance not reversed by cloxacillin was associated with amino acid variations in AmpC. Only isolates resistant to both ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam carried AmpD mutations, likely resulting in ampC overexpression. All isolates resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam and/or ceftolozane/tazobactam were resistant to carbapenems and showed inactivating mutations in the chromosomal oprD gene. None of the isolates bore class A, B, D plasmid-encoded carbapenemases. This study showed that mutational resistance emerged in phylogenetically distant lineages, which indicates the mutations occur independently without conferring a selective advantage to any phylogenetic lineage. These findings confirm the strong contribution of mutation-driven evolution to the population structure of P. aeruginosa.