Phenotypic prevalence of resistance to carbapenems, colistin and genes encoding carbapenemase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Introduction: The production of carbapenem enzyme is one of the most frequent mechanisms reported in cabapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Besides, a growing number of mobile colistin resistance (MCR) genes are threatening the renewed interest of colistin as a "last-resort" against carbapenem-resistant pathogens. Therefore, the detection of carbapenem-resistant and colistin-resistant phenotypes as well as preventing transmission of multi-resistant P. aeruginosa strains with genes coding for carbapenemase is extremely necessary. Material and methods: Among 159 P. aeruginosa strains were collected 46 isolates, which is resistant or intermediated to meropenem. Modified carbapenem inactivation (mCIM) and colistin broth disk elution (CBDE) methods were used to identify carbapenemase-producing strains and colistin resistance. In addition, a multiplex real-time PCR technique was applied to investigate the frequency of emergence of carbapenem resistance genes. Results: The results revealed that 25 strains (54.3%) were positive with mCIM test and none of them resistant to colistin by CBDE method. Number of strains carrying a gene blaIMP: 4 strains (16%), blaNDM: 2 strains (8%). Strains are carrying two genes: blaIMP + blaNDM: 10 strains (40%), blaVIM + blaNDM: 1 strain (4%), blaNDM + blaOXA-48: 1 strain (4%) and are carrying three genes blaIMP + blaNDM + blaOXA-48: 6 strains (24%), blaKPC + blaIMP + blaNDM: 1 strain (4%). Conclusions: All mCIM positive P. aeruginosa were contained carbapenemase genes. Colistin still reserved a good effect to combine with other antibiotics in multi-resistant treatment. Hence, the classification of genes can help clinicians selected appropriate antibiotics so that more effective treatment for patients.