Investigation of metallo-beta-lactamase production in carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital, Turkey

Abstract

Aims: The detection of the metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates is crucial for infection control and public health. The present study aimed to investigate the MBL production in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolated from various clinical samples in Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital, Turkey. Methodology and results: Seventy-three carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from different patients between April 2018 and November 2020. Identification of the isolates was performed by conventional methods (culture examination, determination of Gram reaction, and oxidase test) and an automated system (Vitek 2). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined using the Vitek 2 and the results were interpreted based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) standards. The MBL production was phenotypically investigated using the imipenem-EDTA combined disk test. The presence of beta-lactamase IMP (blaIMP), betalactamase VIM (blaVIM) and beta-lactamase GIM (blaGIM) genes were determined using PCR to confirm the MBL production. Seventy-one isolates (97%, n=71/73) were resistant to imipenem, sixty-four isolates (88%, n=64/73) to meropenem and sixty-two isolates (85%, n=62/73) to both imipenem and meropenem. Sixty-five isolates (89%, n=65/73) were defined as multidrug-resistant. The MBL production was detected in 57 isolates (78%, n=57/73) phenotypically. However, the blaIMP, blaVIM and blaGIM genes were not detected in all the isolates. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: It was determined that there were no imipenemase (IMP), Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) and German imipenemase (GIM) type MBLs in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolated from Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital. MBL production in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains can be investigated phenotypically. However, confirmation of results with molecular tests is especially significant for epidemiological studies.