Diversity of β-Lactamases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Producing Metallo-β-Lactamase in Two Tunisian Hospitals

Abstract This study was conducted to identify the β-lactamase content of 30 metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in 2007 from two Tunisian hospitals and to investigate their genetic relatedness. All these isolates produced VIM-2. blaPER-1, blaPSE-1, blaOXA-2, and blaOXA-10 were identified in 17, 5, 21, and 1 isolates, respectively. These enzymes were often associated in the same isolate: 26 isolates had at least two β-lactamases. The predominant serotype was O12. Pulsed-field gel electrphoresis revealed genetic diversity among the metallo-β-lactamase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates. This is the first report on the existence of blaPER-1, blaPSE-1, blaOXA-2, and blaOXA-10 in Tunisia.