PHENOTYPIC SCREENING OF CARBAPENEM RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATES FROM BURN PATIENTS

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and causes variety of infections, including respiratory tract infections and skin associated infections.  Antimicrobial resistance, mainly multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRPA), is a pressing concern related to P. aeruginosa infections. The present study aims at screening carbapenemase producing   P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients.  Altogether 200 swab samples were collected from the burn and care unit of Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) hospital, Wah Cantt.  Samples were processed for biochemical and microbiological identification.  Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion method. Carbapenemase detection was performed by carbapenem inactivation method (CIM). Overall, the results confirmed 80 (42%) of the isolates as P. aeruginosa, followed by E. coli (23.8%). K. pneumoniae and S. aureus (each 14.28%). The results also revealed that P. aeruginosa exhibited high susceptibility to levofloxacin (100%), while highest resistance was observed against meropenem (100%) followed by ciprofloxacin (50%), imipenem (50%) and gentamicin (45%).  Further, CIM method revealed that 48 out of 80 (60%) of the isolates were positive for carbapenemase production. These findings underscore the varying susceptibility patterns of P. aeruginosa to different antibiotics commonly used in clinical practice. The results also highlight the notable presence of carbapenem resistant P. aeruginosa further endorsing the need of novel therapeutic drugs to treat such infections.