PROFILES OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE GENES IN Pseudomonas aeruginosa FROM BURN WOUND INFECTIONS IN ERBIL, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ
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Multidrug resistance, Burn infections, Biofilm, Efflux pumps, P. aeruginosa, Molecular diagnostics
Abstract
P. aeruginosa is a remarkable opportunistic bacterium that presents a significant issue in the therapeutic context, particularly within burn units. This is due to its capacity to produce catastrophic infections and apparent resistance to a variety of antimicrobial medications. The current study was designed to characterize clinical isolates of this bacterium from individuals suffering infections in their burn wounds in emergency hospitals in Erbil, Iraq. Isolates were recognized and analyzed via conventional microbiological approaches, automated VITEK® 2 system and molecular diagnostic techniques. Thirty isolates were collected and confirmed by amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial drug susceptibility testing revealed high rates of resistance to several drugs, particularly ceftazidime, meropenem, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Molecular analysis revealed the existence of a large number of resistance genes coupled with efflux pumps, including OprM (90%), MexB (50%), MexR (43.3%) and MexA (36.6%). In addition, PelA and PslA genes associated with biofilm formation were found in all isolates (100%) and 30% of isolates, respectively. The findings underscore the critical need for ongoing molecular research on P. aeruginosa and the imperative to stop the dissemination of multidrug resistant species. The achievement of targeted infection handling strategies is essential
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