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Published on: February 23, 2014
Bacteremia in a human caused by an XDR strain of Pseudomonas fulva
Fakhur Uddin1, Kerry Roulston2, Timothy D McHugh3
1University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. fakharindhar@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
This is the first report from Pakistan of a case of bacteremia in a human due to P. fulva, an opportunistic infection with increased risk of a drug resistant phenotype. P. fulva was isolated from blood of a 45 years male admitted in surgical ICU. Isolate was identified by the MALDI-TOF-MS and was extensively drug resistant (XDR) strain. Isolate was found negative for metallo β lactamase (MBL) and extended spectrum β lactamase (ESBL) types by phenotypic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. It was concluded that P. fulva is an emerging opportunistic pathogen.
Insights
This study reports the first case of Pseudomonas fulva bacteremia in Pakistan. This extensively drug-resistant opportunistic pathogen highlights the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Pseudomonas fulva is an opportunistic pathogen with limited reports in human infections.
- The rise of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria poses a significant global health challenge.
- Pakistan faces a growing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first case of Pseudomonas fulva bacteremia in Pakistan.
- To characterize the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated P. fulva strain.
- To highlight P. fulva as an emerging opportunistic pathogen in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of P. fulva from patient blood using MALDI-TOF-MS.
- Phenotypic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect specific resistance mechanisms (metallo β-lactamase and extended-spectrum β-lactamase).
- Assessment of the isolate's drug resistance profile.
Main Results:
- The first documented case of P. fulva bacteremia in a human in Pakistan.
- The isolated P. fulva strain was identified as extensively drug-resistant (XDR).
- The isolate tested negative for metallo β-lactamase (MBL) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production.
Conclusions:
- Pseudomonas fulva represents an emerging opportunistic pathogen with the potential for extensive drug resistance.
- This case underscores the need for enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities for unusual pathogens in Pakistan.
- The findings emphasize the critical threat of antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of novel resistant strains in healthcare environments.
