DOI: 10.4103/mjbl.mjbl_326_24 ISSN: 1812-156X
Molecular Characterization of Metallo-β-Lactamase Resistance Genes (bla VIM and bla KPC ) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Different Clinical Specimens
Inas Ahmed Saeed, Samara Abdulhameed Alsalihi, Alaa H. Al-Charrakh Abstract
Background:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
poses a significant challenge in modern medicine due to its inclination to infect individuals with weakened immune systems, remarkable adaptability, resistance to antibiotics, and an extensive array of dynamic defense mechanisms.
Objectives:
Detection of genetic resistance mechanisms of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) in
P. aeruginosa
isolates.
Materials and Methods:
The present study involving 400 bacterial isolates obtained from diverse clinical sources (blood, urine, wound, and burn swabs) were collected from Hilla Teaching Hospital between February 2023 and September 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using the disk diffusion test, and molecular detection of enzymatic genes was performed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results:
In the present study, 28
P. aeruginosa
isolates demonstrate pronounced resistance. The antibiotic resistance rates were notably high for piperacillin (80%) and carbenicillin (81.2%). Resistance to imipenem and meropenem was 8.4% and 19.8%, respectively, while the highest resistance was recorded against gentamicin (82%), amikacin (72.6%), cefepime (60.8%), cefotaxime (70.2%), ceftazidime (70.2%), and ceftriaxone (71.6%). Molecular detection of enzymatic genes was performed through PCR testing, revealing that all 28 isolates (100%) exhibited the presence of the
16SrRNA
gene, a considered indicator for detecting bacteria by PCR. The prevailing MBL gene was the
bla
VIM
-type gene, identified in 12 (42.8)% of the isolates. Furthermore, 10 (35.7%) of isolates carried the
bla
KPC
-type gene.
Conclusion:
The identification of
bla
VIM-
and
bla
KPC
-type genes in
P. aeruginosa
suggests a high degree of resistance to antibiotics, especially those that target carbapenems. This restricts the options for treating infections caused by these bacteria, which is a serious concern in healthcare settings.