Phenotypic and multiplex PCR-defined antimicrobial resistance in Ukrainian soldiers’ war-wound microbiota
Abstract
This study investigates antimicrobial resistance in combat-related wound infections from the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine using combined phenotypic and molecular approaches. Gram-negative pathogens, predominantly ESKAPE organisms, exhibited high resistance rates, including 43% resistance to imipenem and frequent multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Molecular analysis revealed β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes in 22/37 isolates, with frequent co-carriage of multiple determinants such as blaCTX-M , blaSHV , blaTEM , blaKPC , blaNDM , and blaOXA-48 . While blaCTX-M strongly correlated with cephalosporin resistance, weaker genotype–phenotype concordance was observed for blaTEM and blaSHV , indicating the contribution of additional resistance mechanisms. Discrepancies between multiplex PCR and phenotypic susceptibility were particularly evident in P. aeruginosa . Additional WGS analyses of selected isolates provided a broader characterization of the resistome and identified resistance determinants not covered by the targeted PCR panel, helping to clarify several genotype–phenotype discrepancies. Less susceptible subpopulations observed for Gram-negative isolates and vanC-mediated intrinsic resistance in Enterococcus gallinarum further emphasized diagnostic complexity. Overall, the findings indicate a high burden and substantial diversity of antimicrobial resistance among the analyzed combat-related wound isolates. These results support the use of integrated diagnostic strategies combining rapid molecular detection with MIC-based phenotypic testing, with broader genomic analyses applied where clinically or epidemiologically justified, to support targeted therapy and antimicrobial stewardship.
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BibTeX
@article{sibinska2026phenotypic,
title = {{Phenotypic and multiplex PCR-defined antimicrobial resistance in Ukrainian soldiers’ war-wound microbiota}},
author = {Ewelina Sibińska and Viktoriia Avramenko and Oleksandra Pryshchepa and Oleksandr Bespalko and Michał Złoch and Yehor Babenko and Svitlana Yaremchuk and Joanna Rudnicka and Iryna Furtat and Polina Vakuliuk and Paweł Pomastowski},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-77447-z},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77447-z},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Phenotypic and multiplex PCR-defined antimicrobial resistance in Ukrainian soldiers’ war-wound microbiota
AU - Ewelina Sibińska
AU - Viktoriia Avramenko
AU - Oleksandra Pryshchepa
AU - Oleksandr Bespalko
AU - Michał Złoch
AU - Yehor Babenko
AU - Svitlana Yaremchuk
AU - Joanna Rudnicka
AU - Iryna Furtat
AU - Polina Vakuliuk
AU - Paweł Pomastowski
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-77447-z
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-77447-z
AB - This study investigates antimicrobial resistance in combat-related wound infections from the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine using combined phenotypic and molecular approaches. Gram-negative pathogens, predominantly ESKAPE organisms, exhibited high resistance rates, including 43% resistance to imipenem and frequent multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Molecular analysis revealed β-lactamase and carbapenemase genes in 22/37 isolates, with frequent co-carriage of multiple determinants such as blaCTX-M , blaSHV , blaTEM , blaKPC , blaNDM , and blaOXA-48 . While blaCTX-M strongly correlated with cephalosporin resistance, weaker genotype–phenotype concordance was observed for blaTEM and blaSHV , indicating the contribution of additional resistance mechanisms. Discrepancies between multiplex PCR and phenotypic susceptibility were particularly evident in P. aeruginosa . Additional WGS analyses of selected isolates provided a broader characterization of the resistome and identified resistance determinants not covered by the targeted PCR panel, helping to clarify several genotype–phenotype discrepancies. Less susceptible subpopulations observed for Gram-negative isolates and vanC-mediated intrinsic resistance in Enterococcus gallinarum further emphasized diagnostic complexity. Overall, the findings indicate a high burden and substantial diversity of antimicrobial resistance among the analyzed combat-related wound isolates. These results support the use of integrated diagnostic strategies combining rapid molecular detection with MIC-based phenotypic testing, with broader genomic analyses applied where clinically or epidemiologically justified, to support targeted therapy and antimicrobial stewardship.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -