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Detection of Multiple Nosocomial Trichosporon asahii Transmission Events via Microsatellite Typing Assay, South America

Summary

Researchers developed a test to identify different strains of a dangerous fungus called Trichosporon asahii that causes serious infections in hospitals. Using this test on samples from South America, they discovered that multiple patients in different hospitals were infected with genetically identical strains, suggesting the fungus was spreading between patients. This typing method is faster and cheaper than other genetic tests, making it useful for hospitals in countries with limited resources to track and control fungal outbreaks.

Background

Trichosporon asahii is an emerging yeast-like fungal pathogen causing life-threatening catheter-related infections worldwide, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The organism exhibits antifungal resistance patterns and has been associated with nosocomial outbreaks, but epidemiologic typing tools for investigating transmission are notably lacking.

Objective

To develop a microsatellite typing assay for T. asahii and apply it to investigate genetic relatedness and nosocomial transmission events among clinical and environmental isolates from South America.

Results

The microsatellite typing panel identified 71 genotypes among 111 isolates with a Simpson diversity index of 0.9793, demonstrating superior discriminatory power compared to IGS1 sequencing. Multiple nosocomial transmission clusters were identified, including one spanning 13 years in a Brazilian hospital and evidence of potential interhospital transmission in Uruguay.

Conclusion

The developed microsatellite typing panel provides high reproducibility and specificity, serving as an effective epidemiologic tool for tracking T. asahii outbreaks. The method offers an accessible alternative to whole-genome sequencing for resource-limited settings and complements IGS1-based genotyping.
  • Published in:Emerging Infectious Diseases,
  • Study Type:Molecular Epidemiology Study,
  • Source: 10.3201/eid3109.241929
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