Multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas auruginosa (CRPA) are difficult to treat. Carbapenem resistance is due to multiple mechanisms and among these mechanisms production of carbapenemases is the most important. The aim of this study was investigating the prevalence of carbapenemase encoding genes that were associated with CRPA. Bacterial isolation, identification and antibiotic sensitivity were performed. Selected CRPA isolates were investigated for the presence of specific carbepenemase- encoding genes. Gene mutation was enhanced by exposure of the bacterial cells to UV radiation. Among the investigated CRPA isolates (12/22, 54.5%) were harboring genes for carbapenemases production. KPC, VIM, IMP genes were detected in (11/22, 50%), (5/22, 22.7%) and (4/22, 18.2%) respectively, while SME, NDM-1(using two pairs of primers) and OXA genes were not detected in any of the tested CRPA isolates. In the absence of KPC, IMP and VIM genes in bacterial mutants, MIC for carbapenems were decreased from ≥16 to ≤2 mg/L. The prevalence of cabapenamase encoding genes was relatively high in the current study, which was reported in association with high mortality rate. In contrast to a recent publication, KPC and IMP genes were detected in Kuwait hospitals and their impact on resistance was proved.
Key words: Carbapenem resistance; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; carbapenemase encoding genes
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