Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat requiring a One Health approach, as antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread between animals and humans. Enterococcus spp., particularly E. faecium (Efm) and E. faecalis (Efs), are key AMR indicators due to their role as gut commensals and their potential as reservoirs of resistance genes. They are also opportunistic pathogens that can cause s...
The presence of bacterial hazards on contaminated surfaces in food-processing environments poses significant food safety risks. Monitoring and hygiene verification of surfaces in direct or indirect contact with food remains a top priority for food business operators. Sanitation uses antimicrobial compounds, biocides (disinfectants/antiseptics), whose effectiveness on surface microbiota depends on microorganisms...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat requiring a One Health approach, asantibiotic-resistant bacteria canspread between animals and humans. Enterococcusspp., particularly E. faecium(Efm) and E. faecalis(Efs),are keyAMR indicators due to their role as gut commensals and their potential as reservoirs of resistance genes.They are also opportunistic pathogensthat can cause severe human infection...
Bacterial hazards on contaminated surfaces in food-processing environments pose significant food safety risks. Hygiene monitoring of surfaces in direct or indirect contact with food typically relies on a limited set of bacterial indicators, such as Enterobacteriaceae counts. However, their genomic diversity remains poorly characterised. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive genomic characterisati...
Background: Enterococcus faecium-Efm and E.lactis-Elts (former Efm-cladeB) colonize the human gut, with Efm also being a leading hospital-pathogen. Dynamics influencing strain dominance in competitive environments (e.g., infection/colonization) are not fully understood, but bacteriocins may provide competitive advantage to clinical Efm or commensal Elts strains. Objective: We explored bacteriocin content of con...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a formidable adversary in global health, contributing significantly to mortality from both nosocomial and community-acquired infections [1-6]. This talk aims to dissect the multifaceted nature of AMR, exploring its roots, ongoing global challenges, and innovative countermeasures being developed to mitigate its impact. Despite decades of awareness, AMR continues to escalate...
Background: Vancomycin-variable-enterococci (VVE) are vanA+ enterococci expressing a vancomycin-susceptible phenotype that can revert to a resistant phenotype (VRE) after vancomycin exposure. Objective: We aimed to screen and characterize VVE in a large collection of Enterococcus faecium (Efm) [1]. Methods: We performed a vanA-PCR screening on an extensive Efm collection (2009-2022), including hospital (n=255) ...
Background: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) are leading nosocomial pathogens linked to high mortality rates and costs [1,2]. VREfm are also included in the WHO global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed [3]. Their epidemiology is puzzling within Europe and VREfm data in Portuguese hospitals are lacking since the 2000s. Objective: We...
Background: E. cloacae complex species are increasingly implicated in infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, but their epidemiology is scarce due to the limitations of automated methods in accurate species identification (e.g. VITEK2/ MALDI–TOF MS) [1]. FT-IR is a promising quick, simple and low-cost alternative for bacterial discrimination [2]. Objective: We aim to assess the epidemiology of Entero...