Utility of hybrid whole genome sequencing in assessing potential nosocomial VIM transmission

David Burke James Mahoney; Xena Li; Patryk Aftanas; Christie Vermeiren; Robert Kozak; Kevin Katz; Finlay Maguire

doi:10.1017/ash.2024.347

Utility of hybrid whole genome sequencing in assessing potential nosocomial VIM transmission

Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2024 Aug 5;4(1):e106. doi: 10.1017/ash.2024.347. eCollection 2024.

Authors

David Burke James Mahoney^{1

2}, Xena Li^{3

4

5}, Patryk Aftanas³, Christie Vermeiren^{3

4

6}, Robert Kozak^{3

4

6}, Kevin Katz^{3

4

5

6}, Finlay Maguire^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
² Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
³ Shared Hospital Laboratory, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Infection Prevention and Control, North York General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Abstract

Hybrid whole genome sequencing was used to investigate if nosocomial Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM) carbapenemase transmission occurred between two patients without epidemiological links or common pathogens. Challenges in genomic methodology and appropriate analytical depth for mobile carbapenemase outbreaks are described including how inappropriate choices can mislead results and impact infection control practices.