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Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
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Characterization of imipenem resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from Turkey

M Mac Aogáin1, C Kulah, M Rijnsburger

  • 1BIOMERIT Research Centre, Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|May 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a growing threat. Mutational disruption of the oprD gene was the primary mechanism driving imipenem resistance in Turkish hospital isolates.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.
  • Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Background:

  • Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a significant threat to treating infections caused by this opportunistic pathogen.
  • An increasing trend of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa was observed at Zonguldak Karaelmas University Hospital, Turkey, between 2003 and 2006.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the emergence of imipenem resistance in P. aeruginosa isolates.
  • To characterize the genetic diversity and clonal relationships among resistant isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) typing was employed to assess the genetic diversity and identify clonal outbreaks.
  • Molecular characterization of carbapenem resistance mechanisms was performed on representative isolates from identified clonal groups.

Main Results:

  • AFLP analysis revealed genetic diversity among imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, identifying two distinct clonally related outbreak groups.
  • Mutational disruption of the oprD gene was identified as the predominant mechanism of carbapenem resistance, found in 23 out of 27 isolates studied.
  • Other resistance mechanisms were present but less frequent than oprD disruption.

Conclusions:

  • Mutational disruption of oprD is a major contributor to carbapenem resistance in P. aeruginosa isolates from this Turkish hospital.
  • The findings highlight the importance of monitoring resistance mechanisms to guide antimicrobial stewardship and treatment strategies against P. aeruginosa infections.

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