Link to Pubmed [PMID] – 41500464
Link to DOI – 10.1016/j.jgar.2025.12.012
J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2026 Jan; ():
The spread of high-risk XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) clones is a global threat to public health. In Morocco, data on circulating clones, and genomic features of Pa isolates are lacking.Accordingly, this study performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) (Illumina NextSeq500) of 18 Pa isolates from hospital (n=10) and the community (n=8) to identify their sequence type (ST) affiliation, antimicrobial resistance determinants, virulence factors, and phylogenetic relationships. Isolates were selected based on alarming resistance profiles from strains collected in Casablanca, Morocco between January and December 2021.These isolates were assigned as sequence type (ST) 773 (n=11), 308 (n=5) and 233 (n=1), in addition to a novel ST4902 for one hospital isolate. Carbapenem-resistance in hospital isolates was primarily attributed to acquired carbapenemases (NDM-1 in ST773 and ST308 clones). In contrast, resistance in one hospital (CSPa93) and one community isolate (cSPa43) was associated with mutations in outer membrane protein. Fluoroquinolone resistance correlated with the carriage of qnrVC1 and crpP genes, along with mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDR). The isolates also carried diverse aminoglycoside modifying enzymes and 16S rRNAmethyltransferase genes. Genomic analysis also identified multiple virulence genes in these isolates, notably exoU in ST308 and ST773 isolates. Phylogenetic analysis further revealed hospital-adapted strains being genetically related to each other and to community strains.This first genomic investigation of circulating XDR Pa clones in both hospital and community settings in Morocco using WGS highlights the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted strategies to contain the spread of XDR high-risk clones.