Transmission dynamics of a linear vanA-plasmid during a nosocomial multiclonal outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a non-endemic area, Japan

The spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a major threat in nosocomial settings. A large-scale multiclonal VRE outbreak has rarely been reported in Japan due to low VRE prevalence. We evaluated the transmission of vancomycin resistance in a multiclonal VRE outbreak, conducted biological and genomic analyses of VRE isolates, and assessed the implemented infection control measures. In total, 149 patients harboring VanA-type VRE were identified from April 2017 to October 2019, with 153 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated being grouped into 31 pulsotypes using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, wherein six sequence types belonged to clonal complex 17. Epidemic clones varied throughout the outbreak; however, they all carried vanA-plasmids (pIHVA). pIHVA is a linear plasmid, carrying a unique structural Tn1546 containing vanA; it moves between different Enterococcus spp. by genetic rearrangements. VRE infection incidence among patients in the “hot spot” ward correlated with the local VRE colonization prevalence. Local prevalence also correlated with vancomycin usage in the ward. Transmission of a novel transferrable vanA-plasmid among Enterococcus spp. resulted in genomic diversity in VRE in a non-endemic setting. The prevalence of VRE colonization and vancomycin usage at the ward level may serve as VRE cross-transmission indicators in non-intensive care units for outbreak control.