Molecular analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical, environmental and cockroach sources by ERIC-PCR

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in hospital-acquired infections.
• Understanding the reservoirs and transmission routes of P. aeruginosa is crucial for infection control in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility, virulence factors, and clonal relationships of P. aeruginosa from clinical, environmental, and cockroach sources in hospital ICUs.
• To identify potential reservoirs and transmission pathways of P. aeruginosa within hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Bacterial isolates were collected from clinical, environmental, and cockroach samples.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method.
• Virulence factors (exotoxins A, S, U) and genetic linkage (ERIC-PCR) were analyzed using PCR.

Main Results:

• P. aeruginosa was isolated from 24.4% of clinical, 16% of environmental, and 3.25% of cockroach samples.
• Multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes were observed in 45% of clinical and 37.5% of environmental isolates.
• Environmental isolates exhibited higher prevalence of exoA and exoS virulence genes; 14 distinct ERIC fingerprints indicated genetic diversity and clonal relationships among isolates.

Conclusions:

• Cockroaches and environmental sources can harbor P. aeruginosa, posing a potential risk for hospital infections.
• Environmental P. aeruginosa isolates demonstrate significant virulence and multidrug resistance, emphasizing the need for stringent environmental hygiene.
• Effective control strategies targeting environmental reservoirs are essential to prevent P. aeruginosa transmission in healthcare facilities.