A team of researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) and Awanui Labs Wellington successfully implemented a cutting-edge nanopore genomic surveillance system, halting a drug-resistant infectious outbreak in a Wellington-based neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This advanced technology enabled the early detection and control of an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), helping to protect highly vulnerable patients.
Highlighted in the journal Microbial Genomics, the study was spearheaded by Dr Rhys White (ESR) and Dr Max Bloomfield (Awanui Labs), making use of sequencing technology in a clinical setting. Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as staph, can result in conditions from boils to serious bloodstream and flesh-eating infections. Dr White says what was particularly promising about this research was the ability to harness sequencing to provide accurate results so rapidly.
“Bringing genome sequencing to frontline clinical microbiology laboratories is a game-changer,” says Dr White.
“It empowers these labs with cutting-edge tools, even if they don’t have prior sequencing experience. This democratisation of technology is essential for rapid, precise responses to infectious disease outbreaks, ultimately saving lives and improving patient outcomes.”
Dr Bloomfield says this speed and accuracy has clear benefits when it comes to identifying outbreaks among neonatal infants, one of the most vulnerable patient groups.
“MRSA outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units have previously caused bad outcomes for infants and meant we’ve had to close down parts of the unit to get things under control”.
“Rapid detection allows immediate intervention, meaning appropriate infection control measures were able to be commenced. This limited the outbreak to 10 infants, none of whom developed invasive infection with MRSA. This swift action also meant there was minimal disruption to services in the NICU”.
“This genomic surveillance system allowed us to detect the outbreak when there were only two known cases, which meant we could control things quickly, meaning no infants were seriously affected and the unit could continue to function normally,” says Dr Bloomfield.
The study’s implications extend beyond healthcare, with potential applications in veterinary medicine and agricultural systems due to the demonstrated relationship between human and animal sources of S. aureus.
While the primary focus of our study was within healthcare settings, a collaboration between ESR and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) highlighted the need for One Health research on predominant pathogens such as S. aureus.
“We observed a bovine ST97 genome clustering with a human ST97 genome, despite notable genomic differences between the host genomes, we illustrated S. aureus’s multiple reservoirs. Continued genomic surveillance and cross-industry collaboration, as demonstrated with ESR and LIC, will help future-proof New Zealand’s isolated environment,” says Emma Voss of LIC.
You can find out more about this study in the open access, open data international journal Microbial Genomics https://doi.org/10.1099/mgen.0.001273.