Pathogens · Published 2026-08-04 · DOI 10.3390/pathogens15080820
Katrina L. Edwards, Deepa Gopal Struble, Jordan C. Deutschlander, Isaiah J. Taylor, Lyndy Harden, Erin Harrell, Mabel Kamweli Aworh
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (ESBL-<i>K. pneumoniae</i>) is a priority antimicrobial-resistant pathogen with the capacity to persist and disseminate across environmental and food animal production systems. This study conducted genomic surveillance of ESBL-<i>K. pneumoniae</i> recovered from municipal wastewater treatment plants and food animal production environments in Fayetteville, North Carolina. A total of 449 wastewater and livestock farm environment samples were analyzed. <i>K. pneumoniae</i> was recovered from 162 (36.1%) samples, including 68 (15.1%) ESBL-producing isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 77.9% of ESBL-producing isolates were multidrug-resistant. Polymerase chain reaction identified <i>bla<sub>CTX-M-1</sub></i>, <i>bla<sub>SHV</sub></i>, and <i>bla<sub>ACT</sub></i> as the predominant resistance genes. Whole-genome sequencing of selected isolates identified diverse antimicrobial resistance determinants, virulence-associated genes, and plasmid replicons, with IncFIB(K) being the predominant plasmid type. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close genetic relatedness between wastewater and farm environment isolates, with some differing by only 0–6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, suggesting possible dissemination between environmental reservoirs. These findings highlight municipal wastewater and food animal production environments as important reservoirs of ESBL-<i>K. pneumoniae</i> and reinforce the value of integrated genomic surveillance within a One Health framework to monitor the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
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Edwards, K., Struble, D., Deutschlander, J., et al. (2026). Genomic Surveillance of ESBL-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Across Municipal Wastewater and Food Animal Production Environments. Pathogens. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15080820