Summary

AMB Volume 39, Issue 4, 2023 / Pages 418-422 / https://doi.org/10.59393/amb23390408

Incidence and Characterization of Carbapenem Resistance Mediated by Acquired Beta-Lactamases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from a Bulgarian Cancer Hospital

Sabtcheva S., Stoikov I., Georgieva S., Donchev D., Dobreva E., Ivanov I.N.

Detection of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing metallo-β-lactamases (MBL) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) is essential to adequately treat patients and control the spread of resistance. We investigated the frequency of carbapenem resistance mediated by acquired β-lactamases in P. aeruginosa isolates from a tertiary cancer hospital in Bulgaria. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa infections was relatively low - approximately 2% of all hospital-acquired infections, while the carbapenem resistance rate was estimated at 25% in 2023. Carbapenem resistance due to VIM and NDM MBL types was observed in 8/54 (14.81%) isolates. PER, VEB, or GES ESBLs were detected in a total of 8/54 (14.81%) isolates including 3 isolates co-harbouring NDM and GES enzymes. The overall frequency of 24.07% (13/54) of acquired carbapenemase and ESBL genes in our study reflects the multicomponent nature of carbapenem resistance in P. aeruginosa and highlights the need for reliable screening.

Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)

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