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Whole genome sequencing could help curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals
The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals has been greatly reduced thanks to research from the University of Queensland and Queensland Health. A team including Dr. Patrick Harris and Dr. Brian Forde from UQ's Center for Clinical Research used whole genome sequencing as a surveillance tool to rapidly identify, track and disrupt the pathogens that cause serious nosocomial infections (HAIs). Dr. Harris said HAIs are common and associated with poorer patient outcomes and excessive healthcare-related costs. More than 9 percent of people hospitalized in Australia experience an HAI, and the cost of treatment...
Whole genome sequencing could help curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals
The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospitals has been greatly reduced thanks to research from the University of Queensland and Queensland Health.
A team inclDr. Patrick Harris andDr. Brian Forde from UQ’sThe Center for Clinical Research used whole genome sequencing as a surveillance tool to rapidly identify, track, and disrupt the pathogens that cause serious healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Dr. Harris said HAIs are common and associated with poorer patient outcomes and excessive healthcare-related costs.
More than 9 per cent of people admitted to hospital in Australia experience an HAI, and the cost of treatment is putting a huge strain on an overstretched healthcare system.
The impacts are exacerbated by increasing antimicrobial resistance.
If the resistant bacteria cause serious illnesses such as bloodstream infections, the mortality rate can be as high as 20 percent.”
Dr. Patrick Harris, UQ Center for Clinical Research
The four-year study compared antibiotic-resistant bacteria collected from patients in Queensland hospitals to identify genomic connections and therefore patient-to-patient transmission.
“Traditional infection control and diagnostic methods cannot accurately track the bacteria that cause these infections or detect transmission events in hospitals,” said Dr. Harris.
“But genomic testing can potentially prevent hundreds of infections, save millions of dollars in excess health care costs and ultimately reduce patient suffering and death.”
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The research team sequenced and compared the genomes of more than 3,000 different bacteria to provide early notification of clustering, a key marker of likely hospital transmission.
Dr. Forde said the key to the project's success is the continued use of genomics as a surveillance tool.
“By using sequencing in this way, we were able to identify, track and interrupt the transmission of these bacteria in real time,” said Dr. Forde.
“By using genomics with available epidemiological data, we were also able to distinguish between hospital and community transmission and direct infection control efforts where they were needed most.”
The project, funded by Queensland Health, demonstrated that routine use of real-time genomic surveillance for HAIs is feasible.
“Although difficult to implement, genomics-based infection prevention strategies are likely to become the new gold standard,” said Dr. Forde.
“The significant costs associated with running this as a service would be justified by the potential savings to the healthcare system and improved prevention of HAIs in vulnerable patients.”
The research, funded by Queensland Health's Queensland Genomics program, was published inClinical infectious diseases.
Source:
Reference:
Forde, BM, et al. (2022) Clinical implementation of routine whole-genome sequencing for hospital infection control of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Clinical infectious diseases. doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciac726.
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