Development and validation of a core genome multilocus sequence typing scheme for <i>Citrobacter freundii</i> : application in outbreak investigations and comparative analysis across the <i>Citrobacter</i> genus
Accurate identification and high-resolution typing of multidrug-resistant bacteria are essential for understanding their transmission dynamics in hospitals, particularly in light of the global spread of resistant strains and the role of environmental reservoirs. The newly developed cgMLST schemes presented here provide standardized, portable tools for both local and global scientific and clinical communities to conduct fine-scale genomic epidemiology across four <i>Citrobacter</i> species. These schemes support detailed outbreak reconstruction, source attribution, and cross-hospital comparisons, capabilities that are critical in an era of increasing antimicrobial resistance and international patient movement. By enabling consistent, species-specific surveillance and comparative analyses, cgMLST enhances infection control and public health responses, facilitating early detection and targeted intervention.
Authors
- Gabriel E. Wagner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5704-3955)
- Aila Caplunik-Pratsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5287-0492)
- Lena Ulm (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3388-8785)
- Adriana Cabal Rosel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9346-1612)
- Dag Harmsen
- Mahmood Ameen Abdulla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5390-8502)
- Anja Eichner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4927-8583)
- Karsten Becker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6391-1341)
- Werner Ruppitsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9940-3333)
- Jürgen H. Fritsch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6909-6096)
- Anca Rath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1992-1897)
- Bärbel Kieninger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2918-6684)
- Wulf Schneider‐Brachert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2707-2923)
- Christian Köhler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3921-6776)
- Jasmine Alikhani
- Parham Heydarzadeh-Ghamsary
Institutions
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (DE)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- University Hospital Münster (DE)
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene (DE)
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AT)
- University of Regensburg (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Microbiology
- Published
- 2025-09-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00860-25
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.18