Coinfection with human norovirus and Escherichia coli O25:H4 harboring two chromosomal blaCTX-M-14 genes in a foodborne norovirus outbreak in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

What is it about?

Healthy people can carry extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli in their intestines; thus, E. coli from healthy people can potentially cause hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, the transmission routes of ESBL-producing E. coli from healthy persons should be determined. In this study, we revealed that E. coli O25:H4 and HuNoV GII coinfected customers via food served at a restaurant in Japan. These strains were resistant to multiple antimicrobials and produced ESBL. Further, the strains isolated in the outbreak belonged to a group driving ESBL epidemics in Japan. Because the E. coli O25:H4 strains isolated in the outbreak belonged to the group spreading in Japan, foods contaminated with ESBL-producing E. coli might contribute to spreading these strains among healthy persons.

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