Isolation of an antimicrobial‐resistant biofilm‐forming Klebsiella grimontii isolate from a reusable water bottle

摘要

A reusable water bottle was swabbed as part of the citizen science project “Swab and Send,” and a isolate was recovered on chromogenic agar and designated SS141. Whole‐genome sequencing of SS141 showed it has the potential to be a human pathogen as it contains the biosynthetic gene cluster for the potent cytotoxin, kleboxymycin, and genes for other virulence factors. The genome also contains the antibiotic‐resistant genes, , and a variant of which is likely to explain the observed resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and fosfomycin. We have also shown that SS141 forms biofilms on both polystyrene and polypropylene surfaces, providing a reasonable explanation for its ability to colonize a reusable water bottle. With the increasing use of reusable water bottles as an alternative to disposables and a strong forecast for growth in this industry over the next decade, this study highlights the need for cleanliness comparable to other reusable culinary items.