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BackgroundKlebsiella pneumoniae is a World Health Organization high-priority antibiotic-resistant pathogen. However, little is known about Klebsiella lineages circulating in Nigeria.MethodsWe performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of 141 Klebsiella isolated between 2016 and 2018 from clinical specimens at 3 antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) sentinel surveillance tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria. We conducted in silico multilocus sequence typing; AMR gene, virulence gene, plasmid, and K and O loci profiling; as well as phylogenetic analyses, using publicly available tools and Nextflow pipelines.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of the 134 K. pneumoniae and 5 K. quasipneumoniae isolates from Nigeria characterized are closely related to globally disseminated multidrug-resistant clones. Of the 39 K. pneumoniae sequence types (STs) identified, the most common were ST307 (15%), ST5241 (12%), ST15 (~9%), and ST25 (~6%). ST5241, 1 of 10 novel STs detected, is a single locus variant of ST636 carrying dfrA14, tetD, qnrS, and oqxAB resistance genes. The extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene blaCTX_M-15 was seen in 72% of K. pneumoniae genomes, while 8% encoded a carbapenemase. No isolate carried a combination of carbapenemase-producing genes. Four likely outbreak clusters from 1 facility, within STs 17, 25, 307, and 5241, were ESBL but not carbapenemase-bearing clones.ConclusionsThis study uncovered known and novel K. pneumoniae lineages circulating in 3 hospitals in Southwest Nigeria that include multidrug-resistant ESBL producers. Carbapenemase-producing isolates remain uncommon. WGS retrospectively identified outbreak clusters, pointing to the value of genomic approaches in AMR surveillance for improving infection prevention and control in Nigerian hospitals.

IntroductionKlebsiella pneumoniae is a World Health Organization high-priority antibiotic-resistant pathogen. However, little is known about the population structure and evolution of Klebsiella circulating in Nigeria.MethodsWe performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 141 Klebsiella isolated between 2016 and 2018 from clinical specimens at 3 antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) sentinel surveillance tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria. We conducted in silico multilocus sequence typing, AMR gene, virulence gene, plasmid, and K and O loci profiling, as well as phylogenetic analyses, using publicly available tools and Nextflow pipelines.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of the 134 K. pneumoniae and 5 K. quasipneumoniae isolates from Nigeria characterized are closely related to globally disseminated multidrug-resistant clones. Of the 39 K. pneumoniae sequence types (STs) identified, the most common were ST307 (15%), ST5241 (12%), ST15 (~9%), and ST25 (~6%). ST5241, one of 10 novel STs detected, is a single locus variant of ST636 carrying dfrA14, tetD, qnrS, and oqxAB resistance genes. The extended-spectrum β lactamase (ESBL) gene blaCTX_M-15 was seen in 72 % of K. pneumoniae genomes, while 8% encoded a carbapenemase. Four likely outbreak clusters from one facility, within STs 17, 25, 307, and 5241, were ESBL but not carbapenemase-bearing clones.ConclusionThis study uncovered known and novel K. pneumoniae lineages circulating in Nigeria that include multidrug-resistant ESBL producers. Carbapenemase-producing isolates remain uncommon. WGS retrospectively identified outbreak clusters, pointing to the value of genomic approaches in AMR surveillance for improving infection prevention and control in Nigerian hospitals.summaryWe performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 141 Klebsiella isolated in 2016-2018 at 3 antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) sentinel surveillance tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria. This study uncovered known and novel K. pneumoniae lineages circulating in Nigeria that include multidrug-resistant ESBL producers.FUNDINGThis work was supported by Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding from the National Institute of Health Research [16/136/111: NIHR Global Health Research Unit on Genomic Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance].This research was commissioned by the National Institute of Health Research using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. INO is an African Research Leader supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) under the MRC/DFID Concordat agreement that is also part of the EDCTP2 program supported by the European Union. The funders had no role in the content, crafting or submission of this paper. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the funders or their affiliates.CONFLICT OF INTERESTThe authors: No reported conflicts of interest. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest.

Introduction: Colonisation of body surfaces with resistant strains is an initial step in the pathogenesis of drug resistant invasive Candida infections. Nigeria has little data on the species distribution and resistance pattern of colonising Candida species in intensive care unit(ICU) patients. This study set out to investigate the burden of Candida colonisation in the ICU of a tertiary health institution in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Methodology: At admission, 72 hours and 7 days, swabs of skin, oropharynx, perianal region, surgical wounds, tracheal aspirates and urine samples taken from adult ICU patients were cultured on media selective for fungi. Candida species were identified by standard microbiological methods. Sensitivity to fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin was determined by disc diffusion according to CLSI guidelines. Strain interrelatedness was investigated by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Results: Of 744 samples from 110 patients, 142 samples (18.3%) yielded Candida. The average colonisation index increased with duration of admission (p=0.001). Most frequently colonized were the oropharynx (39.5%) and the perianal region (22.4%). Species isolated were C. albicans 97 (68.3%), C. tropicalis 20 (14.1%), C. glabrata 12 (8.5%), C. parapsilosis 7 (4.9%) and C. krusei 6 (4.2%). About 1 in every 3 isolates was resistant to fluconazole (42/142; 29.6%). In addition, resistance to voriconazole was 12/142 (8.5%) while 10/142 (7%) were resistant to caspofungin. RAPD showed identical strains across several body sites of many patients. Conclusion: Candida species with high rates of resistance to the first line antifungal agent colonise and are transmitted among ICU patients. These can potentially cause difficult to treat invasive infections, underscoring a need for better infection control practices.

Introduction: We report a rare cause of keratitis, due to Cylindrocarpon lichenicola, in a farmer with keratomycosis. Despite the acknowledged virulence of this fungus, a suitable antifungal for its management was not accessible.Case presentation: A 67-year-old farmer presented with a two-week history of pain, mucopurulent discharge, redness and a corneal ulcer with a visual acuity of hand movement in the right eye. With a working diagnosis of infective keratitis, corneal scrapings were taken under a slit lamp biomicroscope for microbiological testing. Direct lactophenol cotton blue mounts revealed septate fungal hyphae, while fungal culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar at room temperature grew woolly mould phenotypically consistent with C. lichenicola.Management and outcome: The patient was started on hourly topical natamycin (5%), ciprofloxacin (0.3%), two-hourly instillation of tobramycin (0.3%) and atropine (1%) twice daily for three months following the isolation of the fungus. The eye healed with a corneal scar and no improvements in visual acuity.Discussion: This infection was difficult to manage due to the inaccessibility of a suitable antifungal, namely, voriconazole in our setting. Hence, there is a need for prompt identification and early institution of suitable antifungals in any patient with suspected keratomycosis.