Ph.D. candidate
Nguyen Pham Nhu Quynh
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City
Title: Genomic insights into the circulation of pandemic fluoroquinolone-resistant extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli ST1193 in Vietnam
Quynh Nguyen1, To Thi Nguyen Nguyen1, Phuong Pham1, Vinh Chau1, Lan Phu Huong Nguyen2, Toan Duc Nguyen3, Tuyen Thanh Ha1, Nhi Thi Quynh Le4, Duong Thuy Vu3, Stephen Baker 5, Guy E. Thwaites 1,6, Maia A. Rabaa 1,6,‡, Duy Thanh Pham 1,6,‡,*
1 Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
2 The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
3 Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
4 The University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
5 Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID) Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
6 Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
‡ Joint senior author
Extra-intestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) ST1193, a globally emergent fluoroquinolone-resistant clone, has become a major cause of bloodstream infections (BSIs). In Vietnam, E. coli is the most common pathogen identified from various severe bacterial infections, and few studies have reported the emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant ExPEC ST1193. However, little is known about the genetic structure, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants and transmission dynamics of ExPEC ST1193 in this setting. In this study, by conducting genomic and phylogenetic analyses of 46 ST1193 isolates obtained from BSIs and healthy individuals in the same population in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we found that the endemic ST1193 population was heterogeneous and highly dynamic, largely driven by multiple strain importations. Most ST1193 isolates carried an extensive array of AMR genes, and displayed resistance to multiple antimicrobial classes. ST1193 isolates also acquired further resistance while circulating in Vietnam. We found phylogenetic links between ST1193 isolates from BSIs and healthy individuals suggesting these organisms may both establish long-term colonisation in the human intestinal tract and induce infections. Our study identifies factors shaping the population structure and transmission dynamics of multidrug-resistant ST1193 in Vietnam, highlighting the urgent needs of local and regional One Health genomic surveillance to capture new emerging ExPEC clones and to determine the origins and vehicles of transmission of these pathogens for better control and prevention.
Biography of the presenting author
Before receiving a fully funded PhD scholarship at Oxford University, I spent over five years working at OUCRU HCMC as a Research Assistant. During this time, I explored the genomic characteristics and conducted outbreak investigations of a wide range of Gram-negative pathogens causing diverse infections, contributing to 13 high-quality publications. Building on this experience, my PhD journey now focuses on generating novel insights into the genomic epidemiology and clinical landscape of community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in Vietnam.
Presenting author details
Full name: Quynh Nguyen
Contact number: 0936161823
Email: quynhnpn@oucru.org
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=AtBNap4AAAAJ
ORCID: 0000-0002-5975-3600
Session name/ number: 4. Pathogenesis and Infection
Category: Oral presentation