Expression of some resistant genes on six Elizabethkingia spp. strains isolated in Vietnam

This study focused on the assessment of the multiantibiotic-resistance and gene expression associated with multi-drug resistance in Elizabethkingia. Six Elizabethkingia spp. strains were isolated from patient samples, and the antibiotic-resistance of the six isolates with all 14 tested antibiotics was confirmed. MacConkey subculture and 16S rRNA sequencing were used to identify the six isolates as; one Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (E. meningoseptica) isolate, and five E. anophelis isolates. Seven genes including four-resistant genes (blaB, blaCME, ant6, lolD and catB and two antibiotics target gene (gyrA and parC) were selected for evaluation of gene expression using Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). The resistant genotype–phenotype correlation of β-lactams (blaB and blaCME) and fluoroquinolones (gyrA and parC) groups was observed. The chloramphenicol resistant gene (catB) was also found in all six isolates. The gene expression level was different between isolates but lacked the relationship with high resistant phenotypes. The aminoglycoside (ant6) and macrolide (lolD) resistant genes were absent, which indicated that other genetic factors could be implicated. The multidrug-resistance of Elizabethkingia spp. is reported for the first time in Vietnam, demonstrating the presence of this drug-resistance bacterium in the Vietnamese hospital environment. The initial results in this study will be the basis for further research regarding Elizabethkingia spp.