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Isolation and Molecular Identification of Aeromonas Wound Infection in Iranian Burn Patients
Nahal Hadi1,2, Zhaleh Mahmoodi3, Amir Emami4
1Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran.
Introduction:
Aeromonas have recently emerged as opportunistic pathogens and only a few studies are available regarding the isolation of these bacteria from burn wound infections. This study aimed at isolating Aeromonas as an infrequent cause of infection in this group of immunocompromised patients.
Methods:
A total of 300 samples were collected from the wounds of burn patients hospitalized in Gotbodin Shirazi Burn Center in 2013. The samples were cultured on Aeromonas specific media and then confirmed using standard biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined using the disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods.
Results:
Biochemical tests demonstrated five presumptive samples of Aeromonas, while, molecular testing confirmed only three. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin-sulbactam, erythromycin, oxacillin, and vancomycin. However, they were susceptible to gentamicin, meropenem, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, cephalexin, and cefotaxime. Two Aeromonas veronii isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and sensitive to nalidixic acid, while Aeromonas bestiarum was sensitive to the former and resistant to the latter antibiotics. Lastly, only one of the A. veronii isolates was found to be resistant to tetracycline.
Conclusion:
This study is the first to report on the isolation of Aeromonas spp. from burn patients in Iran. Moreover, this is the first report of isolating A. bestiarum from burn wounds. The results of this study confirm earlier findings that the use of molecular methods is essential to accurately identify these bacteria.
Insights
This study identified Aeromonas bacteria in burn wound infections in Iran, highlighting the need for molecular identification methods. The isolates showed resistance to common antibiotics but remained susceptible to others like gentamicin.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genomics
Background:
- Aeromonas species are emerging opportunistic pathogens.
- Limited research exists on Aeromonas isolation from burn wound infections.
- Burn patients, particularly immunocompromised individuals, are susceptible to opportunistic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and identify Aeromonas species from burn wound infections in immunocompromised patients.
- To determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolated Aeromonas strains.
- To establish the prevalence of Aeromonas as a causative agent in burn wound infections in Iran.
Main Methods:
- Collected 300 wound samples from hospitalized burn patients.
- Utilized Aeromonas-specific culture media for isolation.
- Confirmed isolates via biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Assessed antibiotic susceptibility using disk diffusion and broth microdilution.
Main Results:
- Three Aeromonas isolates were confirmed using molecular methods after initial presumptive identification.
- All isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam, erythromycin, oxacillin, and vancomycin.
- Susceptibility was observed against gentamicin, meropenem, nitrofurantoin, chloramphenicol, cephalexin, and cefotaxime.
- Specific resistance and sensitivity patterns were noted for Aeromonas veronii and Aeromonas bestiarum against sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline.
Conclusions:
- This research marks the first report of Aeromonas spp. isolation from burn patients in Iran.
- It is also the inaugural isolation of Aeromonas bestiarum from burn wounds globally.
- The study underscores the critical role of molecular techniques for accurate bacterial identification.
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