Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterisation of Clinical Isolates of Nosocomial Infections

The study focuses on identification and characterization of clinical isolates of nosocomial infections with an aim to create a Bank of model microorganisms for further study of mechanisms and prospects of clinical use of novel medicines causing a reversion susceptibility to antibiotics in drug resistant pathogens. Clinical samples of nosocomial infections were collected from phthisiological hospitals in Almaty. Clinical isolates were characterized by morpho-cultural, tinctorial, physiological and biochemical properties and also by susceptibility to antibiotics. Our studies showed that the isolates are characterized by an increased ability to form biofilms that significantly complicates the therapy and prevention of these outbreaks. Moreover, isolates were characterized by varying degrees of susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. The strains of Citrobacter were resistant to azithromycin, which is considered as a reserve drug. This fact raises a concern about the circulation and the spread in hospitals of microorganisms resistant to the latest generation of antibiotics. Obtained genome-scale contigs were used for taxonomic affiliation of the isolates and for identification of genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance. The search for genetic determinants of drug resistance in the obtained genome sequences confirmed the resistance to some antibiotics obtained by phenotypic methods. Whole genome sequences were obtained for 4 clinical isolates identified as Citrobacter koseri SCAID URN1-2019, Citrobacter freundii SCAID PHRX1-2019, Escherichia coli SCAID URN1-2019 and Streptococcus pneumoniae SCAID PHRX1-2019. The genomes were deposited in the NCBI database under accession numbers CP052059, CP052058, CP052057, and CP052060.