Kaotar Nayme

Background: Globally disseminated high‐risk Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) clones are major drivers of multidrug resistance (MDR) and severe clinical infections. Their presence in aquatic ecosystems represents a growing One Health concern, particularly in regions where wastewater management remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the environmental circulation and genomic characteristics of high‐risk E. coli in Moroccan aquatic environments. Methods: Water samples were collected between February and June 2024 from seven major rivers and three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across eight Moroccan cities. A total of 22 E. coli isolates were recovered and analyzed by whole‐genome sequencing to determine their sequence types (STs), antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors, and plasmid replicon profiles. Results: Sixteen isolates originated from rivers (72.7%) and six from WWTPs (27.3%). Thirteen distinct STs were identified, dominated by the globally disseminated high‐risk clones ST44 ( n = 4; 18.2%), ST410 ( n = 4; 18.2%), and ST131 ( n = 3; 13.6%). The most frequent extended‐spectrum β ‐lactamase (ESBL) gene was bla _CTX-M-15 ( n = 13; 59.1%). Carbapenemase genes were found in five isolates (22.7%), including bla _NDM-5 ( n = 2; 9.1%), bla _OXA-48 ( n = 1; 4.5%), bla _OXA-181 ( n = 1; 4.5%), bla _OXA-484 ( n = 2; 9.1%), and bla _OXA-244 ( n = 1; 4.5%), whereas mcr-1.1 was detected in one isolate (4.5%). Plasmid profiling showed a predominance of IncF‐type replicons (IncFIB 81.8%, IncFII 77.3%, and IncFIA 68.2%), along with IncI (36.4%), IncX (13.6%), and IncHI (9.1%). Conclusion: This study provides the first genomic evidence of clinically relevant high‐risk E. coli clones and mobile resistance determinants circulating in Moroccan aquatic environments. These findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen integrated One Health surveillance to prevent environmental dissemination and reduce the public health impact of antimicrobial resistance.

Hospital surfaces represent a major reservoir of multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria (MDR‐GNB), which contributes to healthcare‐associated infections. This study characterized the occurrence, resistance determinants, and biofilm‐forming behavior of MDR‐GNB isolated from hospital surfaces in a Moroccan regional hospital. Samples were collected from multiple departments and subjected to phenotypic and molecular analysis to characterize antimicrobial resistance, resistance genes, and adhesion properties. Among the 154 sampled surfaces, 62% were contaminated with Gram‐negative bacilli, predominantly Acinetobacter baumannii (39%), Escherichia coli (21%), and Enterobacter cloacae (11%). Based on molecular analyses, the key resistance genes were bla _NDM-1 , bla _OXA-48 , bla _VIM-1 , and qacΔ E1, and 73% of the isolates were multidrug resistant (a multiple antibiotic resistance index ≥ 0.6). The majority of the isolates (72.7%) were weak biofilm producers. The isolates adhered more strongly to hydrophobic materials (polyvinyl chloride and latex) than to hydrophilic glass ( p < 0.001). Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering linked antimicrobial resistance, biocide tolerance, and surface colonization. The co‐occurrence of antibiotic‐ and disinfectant‐resistance genes in MDR‐GNB underlies their ability to persist in clinical environments. These findings support risk‐based surface hygiene strategies that incorporate molecular surveillance, the selection of proper materials, and targeted disinfection protocols.

The Journal of Public Health in Africa (JPHiA) is a peer-reviewed, academic journal that focuses on health issues in the African continent. The journal editors seek high quality original articles on public health related issues, reviews, comments and more. The aim of the journal is to move public health discourse from the background to the forefront. The success of Africa’s struggle against disease depends on public health approaches.

This study was conducted to assess the retail food as a possible vehicle for antimicrobial resistant, particularly quinolones resistant and pathogenic Escherichia coli. We determined the prevalence and characteristics of nalidixic acid (Nal) resistant E. coli isolates from diverse retail food samples. In all, 70 (28%) of 250 E. coli isolates studied were Nal-resistant E. coli and 91% of these were multi-drug resistant. Plasmid mediated quinolone resistance genes were identified in 32 isolates, including aac(6′)-Ib-cr (n = 16), qnrS1 (n = 11) and qnrB19 (n = 7). Mutations in gyr A and par C genes were detected among 80% of the isolates, and the isolates showed substitution Ser83-Leu and Asp87-Asn in gyrA and Ser80-Ile in parC. In addition, three different gene cassettes were identified (aadA1, aadA7, aac(3)-Id) in 18%. Virulence-associated genes stx1, eae, sfa, hlyA and stx2 were found in six (8%), three (4%), two (3%), three (4%) and three (4%) isolates, respectively. E. coli isolates of phylogenetic group A were dominant (64%, 45/70). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed none epidemiological relationship between these isolates. The results of this work report the higher frequency of Nal-resistant E. coli isolates from Moroccan retail food samples including MDR and pathogenic isolates.