# Should Cefoxitin Non-Susceptibility in Ceftriaxone-Susceptible E. coli and K. pneumoniae Prompt Concerns Regarding Plasmid-Mediated AmpC Resistance? A Genomic Characterization and Summary of Treatment Challenges in Singapore

## TL;DR

This study investigates whether cefoxitin resistance in certain bacteria indicates plasmid-mediated AmpC resistance and finds it is not a reliable predictor.

## Contribution

The study provides genomic insights into cefoxitin non-susceptibility and highlights the role of regulatory genes in resistance.

## Key findings

- Only 13.9% of cefoxitin-non-susceptible isolates carried plasmid-mediated ampC genes.
- All plasmid-ampC isolates were of the blaDHA-1 subtype and carried the ampR regulator.
- Some Klebsiella isolates showed porin loss, which may explain reduced cefoxitin susceptibility.

## Abstract

Objectives: Plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases represent a growing clinical concern in Enterobacterales, with challenges in diagnostic approaches, limited data on clinical outcomes, and our incomplete understanding of their regulatory mechanisms warranting the need for further investigation. Methods: This retrospective study examined the genomic and clinical characteristics of cefoxitin-non-susceptible, ceftriaxone-susceptible Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream isolates collected from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to detect ampC genes, subtypes, and associated regulatory elements. Results: Among 108 cefoxitin-non-susceptible isolates, only 15 (13.9%) harboured plasmid-mediated ampC, suggesting that cefoxitin non-susceptibility alone in ceftriaxone susceptible isolates was not predictive of ampC carriage. All plasmid-ampC isolates were from the blaDHA-1 subtype and carried ampR, a known transcriptional regulator of inducible beta-lactamase expression. Notably, five non-ampC carrying Klebsiella isolates displayed truncations in ompK35 and ompK36, which could potentially contribute to reduced cefoxitin susceptibility via porin loss. Conclusions: These findings underscore the limited diagnostic utility of cefoxitin susceptibility testing for detecting plasmid-mediated ampC producers and highlight the clinical relevance of regulatory genes such as ampR in mediating inducible resistance. The routine incorporation of molecular diagnostics or genome sequencing may be necessary to improve detection accuracy and inform antimicrobial stewardship strategies.