Current problematic and emergence of carbapenemase-producing bacteria: a brief report from a Libyan hospital

A collection of 94 Gram-negative bacteria isolates, showing different antimicrobial resistance phenotypes including to the carbapenem classes was investigated. Strains were originated form clinical sources from a single hospital in Tripoli, Libya during 2015 and were identified based on cultural and phenotypic characteristics, and fully characterized by the VITEK automated system. Forty-eight percent (48%) of the collection was identified as Acinetobacter baumannii, 50% Klebsiella pneumoniae and 2% Escherichia coli. Resistance to the carbapenem classes was reported in 96% of the A. baumannii strains and 94% of the K. pneumonia strains. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of the isolates showed different multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes, of which K. pneumoniae expressing the highest rates of MDRs(i.e. 91%). Emergence of resistance to carbapenems in the Gram-negative bacteria is a challenging global problem, particularly for Africa. Surveillance of these pathogens and appropriate actions are urgently required in Libyan healthcare settings.


Introduction
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to human health and is occurring at an alarming rate throughout the globe, diminishing the already limited therapeutic options [1]. Lowincome regions, such as Africa, are at high and particular risk. Such threats are complicated by the underdeveloped regional conditions and socioeconomic factors that are associated with healthcare settings and community-acquired pathogens [2]. AMR in Africa is a rising problem and frequently reported from clinical, non-clinical and environmental sources [2,3].
Carbapenems are potent 46;-lactam antibiotics that are considered as the last resort option for treating serious nosocomial infections caused by a broad spectrum of Gram-negative bacteria [4]. Prior to 2000, only few clinical isolates showed resistance to carbapenems, mostly represented by Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thereafter, carbapenem resistance has emerged as a major, global health concern and a major clinical problem [5]. Carbapenemase-producing bacteria has come to the forefront as a global concern representing a serious medical and public health issue due to multidrug resistances (MDRs) that involve valuable therapeutic choices, including the so-called drugs of last resort [6][7][8][9].
Over the past decade, studies and investigations have reported the problem of AMR in Libya among different nosocomial bacterial, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) [10,11]. Recent and increasing reports have also documented the carbapenamase-producing bacteria, mainly involving Libyan traveller patients [6,[12][13][14][15][16]. These recent and limited studies have reported different carbapenemase-encoding genes in the Gram-negative bacteria, including the blaVIM-2, blaNDM and OXA-genes [17,18]. Nevertheless, surveillance and epidemiological investigations on AMR bacterial pathogens in this particular region remain inadequate, limited and incomplete. In this short report, we investigate and provide data on the species spectrum and the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of 94 Gram-negative bacteria that were collected in 2015 from clinical cases at a single Libyan hospital in Tripoli. These strains were isolated and collected on the basis of the expressed resistance to the carbapenem classes. This brief work aimed to report and discuss the current threat and future concern of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in Libyan hospitals.

Methods
The 94 Gram-negative bacterial strains were initially isolated and identified based on cultural and biochemical characteristics (i.e. Gram stain, catalase reactivity, and API 20E system). Isolates were defined and characterized at species level and the antibiotic susceptibility profile was determined using the VITEK automated system (VITEK-Compact 2). The strains were selected and collected based on the expressed resistance to at least one carbapenem class (i.e. meropenem or/and ertapenem) and stored at -20 o C. The VITEK system tested A. baumannii only against meropenem, while the E. coli and K. pneumoniae were tested against both of the carbapenem classes. The Multidrug resistance phenotypes (MDR) (i.e. based on the expressed resistance to at least 5 different antimicrobial classes) were also characterized.  (Table  1). Previously, the extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-in the Gram-negative isolates from Libya hospitals was reported at a range of 9-15% [10].. Generally, MDR and ESBLs are frequent among the clinical strains of Gram-negative rods of P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii and K. pneumonia, and show the concomitant resistance phenotypes [3,13,19]..
The documented cases of carbapenemase-producing bacteria from Libya have exclusively involved Libyan travellers and described MDR phenotypes in patients with high co-colonization rates and a prehospitalization history in Libyan healthcare settings [12][13][14][15][16]. These The carbapenemase-producing bacteria, are generally recognized as difficult to identify and estimate [9]. The current estimates of carbapenemase-producing bacteria for Africa range from 2.3% to 67.7% [8]. The North African and Mediterranean regions have recently been designated as an endemic/reservoir area of the carbapenemase-producing bacteria (i.e. OXA-48 type) [6,7,9,14]. Globally KPC VIM IMP NDM and OXA-48 are the most prevalent βlactamase classes produced by the carbapenemase-producing bacteria [9]. The carbapenem-resistant bacteria in the Gram negative bacteria are a global emergent threat and surveillance and monitoring studies are urgently needed in Libya hospitals. Unfortunately, due to limited financial resources, investigating ESBL genes within the current collection was not possible. Urgent actions and investigations are extremely required to evaluate and understand the extent of carbapenemase-Gram-negative bacteria in Libyan health care settings.

Conclusion
The antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pose a serious medical and public health concern. The recent published reports and the current information reveal a current and prospective concern. The reporting and rising of AMR in Libya has been mainly attributed to the consumption of antibiotic drugs (i.e. β-lactam drugs) and to the improved identification methods and laboratory skills. However, epidemiological data and molecular investigations remain inadequate from healthcare settings and absent from the community. Clearly, lack of epidemiological and molecular investigations, inadequate surveillance and monitoring studies,  What this study adds  This short report reveal the importance to focus on such emergent problem and the associated concern on antimicrobial based therapies particularly for Africa.  This short paper provides useful information on the susceptibility patters of clinical isolates and can aid clinicians in providing the suitable therapies;  This brief report can also help epidemiologist and clinical bacteriologist to understand the serious concern of carbapenemase-producers and the extent of the problem within the Libya health care system and take appropriate actions.

Competing interests
The author declare no competing interest.

Authors' contributions
MOA, analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript. AKE and NFA performed the laboratory work and interpretation of the data. Manuscript was approved by all authors.