Early neonatal infections caused by extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, posing significant treatment challenges. This study investigates ESBL-PE colonization in 499 mother-neonate pairs from Madagascar and Cambodia, with stool samples collected at delivery and from neonates during the first three days of life. Using short- and long-read sequencing, identical isolates or plasmids are detected within each pair to assess neonatal acquisition from maternal source. Associated risk factors are identified through multinomial regression. Maternal gut carriage accounts for only 16.5% of neonatal ESBL-PE acquisition, suggesting that most cases originate from other sources. Primiparity and the wet season are associated with an increased risk of acquisition from the mother, while cesarean delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and wet season are associated with acquisition from other sources. These findings challenge the paradigm that maternal carriage is the primary source of early neonatal ESBL-PE colonization, highlighting the need for further research into alternative sources to inform targeted interventions.

We report here the draft genome sequence of a Chryseobacterium indologenes strain, isolated from a blood culture of a 2.2-year-old child admitted to the hospital for vomiting and coughing. The genome was composed of 5,063,674 bp and had 37.04% GC content. We detected 4,796 genes with predicted protein-coding functions, including those associated with antibiotic resistance.

Objectives: Antimicrobial-resistantNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) is a concern. Little is known about antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and associated genetic resistance mechanisms of NG in Madagascar. We report susceptibility data of NG isolates obtained by the medical laboratory (CBC) of the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar, during 2014–2020. We present antimicrobial resistance mechanisms data and phenotype profiles of a subset of isolates.Methods: We retrieved retrospective data (N=395) from patients with NG isolated during 2014−2020 by the CBC. We retested 46 viable isolates including 6 found ceftriaxone and 2 azithromycin resistant, as well as 33 isolated from 2020. We determined minimal inhibitory concentrations for ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, penicillin, tetracycline and spectinomycin using Etest. We obtained whole-genome sequences and identified the gene determinants associated with antimicrobial resistance and the sequence types (STs).Results: Over the study period, ceftriaxone-resistant isolates exceeded the threshold of 5% in 2017 (7.4% (4 of 54)) and 2020 (7.1% (3 of 42)). All retested isolates were found susceptible to ceftriaxone, azithromycin and spectinomycin, and resistant to ciprofloxacin. The majority were resistant to penicillin (83% (38 of 46)) and tetracycline (87% (40 of 46)). We detected chromosomal mutations associated with antibiotic resistance ingyrA, parC, penA, ponA,porBandmtrRgenes. None of the retested isolates carried the mosaicpenAgene. The high rate of resistance to penicillin and tetracycline is explained by the presence ofbla_TEM(94.7% (36 of 38)) andtetM(97.5% (39 of 40)). We found a high number of circulating multilocus STs. Almost half of them were new types, and one new type was among the four most predominant.Conclusions: Our report provides a detailed dataset obtained through phenotypical and genotypical methods which will serve as a baseline for future surveillance of NG. We could not confirm the occurrence of ceftriaxone-resistant isolates. Our results highlight the importance of implementing quality-assured gonococcal antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Madagascar.

Listeriosis constitutes a significant public health threat due to its high mortality rate. This study investigates the microbiological and genomic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes isolates in Madagascar, where listeriosis is a notifiable disease. The analysis focuses on a fatal case of meningeal listeriosis in a 12-year-old child. Genomic analysis revealed a novel cgMLST type (L2-SL8-ST8-CT11697; CC8, serogroup Iia) with typical virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles. These isolates, unique to Madagascar, formed an independent clade in the phylogenetic tree. This study presents the first genomic characterization of Listeria isolates in Madagascar, highlighting the necessity of ongoing genomic surveillance to strengthen listeriosis prevention and control strategies in the region.

Listeriosis constitutes a significant public health threat due to its high mortality rate. This study investigates the microbiological and genomic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes isolates in Madagascar, where listeriosis is a notifiable disease. The analysis focuses on a fatal case of meningeal listeriosis in a 12-year-old child. Genomic analysis revealed a novel cgMLST type (L2-SL8-ST8-CT11697; CC8, serogroup Iia) with typical virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles. These isolates, unique to Madagascar, formed an independent clade in the phylogenetic tree. This study presents the first genomic characterization of Listeria isolates in Madagascar, highlighting the necessity of ongoing genomic surveillance to strengthen listeriosis prevention and control strategies in the region.