Infection and Drug Resistance (Nov 2019)
Virulence Factors Of Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa In Hospital-Acquired Infections In Mansoura, Egypt
Abstract
Rasha El-Mahdy,1 Ghada El-Kannishy2 1Department of Medical Microbiology And Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptCorrespondence: Rasha El-MahdyFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, EgyptTel +20 5010 0532 9819Email [email protected]: The problem of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in health-care settings is growing worse. This study was conducted to investigate the rate of carbapenemase genes, antibiotic resistance, and virulence factors in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa associated with hospital-acquired infections.Patients and methods: Isolates of P. aeruginosa were collected from patients with hospital-acquired infections at Mansoura University Hospital in Mansoura. Carbapenem susceptibility was done by broth dilution. The presence of carbapenemase genes and quorum-sensing genes was assessed by PCR. Production of protease, pyocyanin, twitching motility, hemolytic activity and biofilm formation was evaluated.Results: Out of 80 P. aeruginosa isolates, 34 (42.5%) were resistant to carbapenem. Among carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, 21 (61.8%) were carbapenemase producers. The most prevalent gene detected was blaVIM. The frequency of protease, pyocyanin, twitching motility, hemolytic activity and biofilm formation was 76.2%, 58.8%, 83.8%, 93.8% and 77.5%, respectively. Biofilm formation was significantly associated with carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. On the other hand, pyocyanin production was significantly lower in carbapenem-resistant isolates. No correlation existed between carbapenem resistance and any other studied virulence factors or quorum-sensing genes.Conclusion: Association of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa with other antibiotic resistance or the presence of virulence factors in hospital-acquired infection may represent a warning that enhances the need for a stringent surveillance program.Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem, virulence factor, resistance
