Abstracts Division 2
32. Antimicrobial resistance gene acquisition among Dutch intercontinental travelers: A prospective study
Jiyang Chan1, Maris S Arcilla3, Perry van Genderen3, 4 , the COMBAT-consortium and John Penders1, 2
1School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
2School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
3Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
4Institute for Tropical Diseases, University Hospital Erasmus MC Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Background
Knowledge about predictors for acquiring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes during travel and the association with the human gut microbiota as reservoir is still limited. We investigated acquisition of AMR genes within travelers, focusing on pre-and post-travel prevalence and risk factors for acquisition.
Methods
Pre- and post-travel fecal samples from 637 intercontinental travelers that participated in the prospective COMBAT study were screened for AMR genes through PCR-based targeted metagenomics. Pearson’s chi square test and Multiple Correspondence analysis (MCA) were applied to explore the associations between the acquisition of AMR genes. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine risk factors associated with the acquisition of AMR genes during travel.
Results
Prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-, quinolone resistance-, colistin resistance- and aminoglycoside resistance encoding genes were higher post-travel compared to pre-travel percentages (p<0.05). BlaCTX-M-(1,2 and 9), mcr-(1,3,4 and 5), qnrS- and qnrB gene acquisitions were significantly associated with each other. Specific (travel-associated) risk factors varied between the different AMR genes. Region visited, antibiotics use, having a chronic disease and consuming shellfish during travel were associated with a higher risk of acquisition for most AMR genes under study.
Conclusion
These findings contribute to the evidence that AMR acquisition among travelers is frequent and substantial.
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