Pseudomonas aeruginosa Coharboring Bla_KPC-2 and Bla_VIM-2 Carbapenemase Genes

Autores organización

• 

  Deisy Julieth Abril Riaño

  Autor

• 

  Javier Antonio Escobar Perez

  Autor

Autores

• Pacheco, T
• Bustos-Cruz, RH
• Arias, S
• Uribe, L
• Rincón, J
• García, JC

Unidades de investigación

• Laboratorio de Genética Molecular Bacteriana

  

  Investigador

  Javier Antonio Escobar Perez

Resumen

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium commonly isolated from hospital settings, exhibits intrinsic resistance to a number of antibiotics and can acquire resistance during antibiotic therapy. Resistance towards carbapenems is increasing due to its overuse in the treatment of infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms. Nonetheless, carbapenems are essential for the treatment of high-risk infections and are one of the remaining weapons in the fight against "extreme drug resistance" of Gram-negative/positive bacilli. Herein, we describe a case report of infections caused by P. aeruginosa strains that carry bla(VIM-2) and bla(KPC-2) carbapenemase genes simultaneously, identified in five patients who were admitted to a high complexity health institution in Colombia. Molecular characterization included PCR screening for bla(KPC), bla(GES), bla(OXA-48), bla(IMP), bla(NDM,) and bla(VIM) carbapenemase and other resistance genes as well as analysis of the genetic relationships by genome macro-restriction and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) separation. In conclusion, these infections represent a major challenge to public health due to the risk of the infection spreading compounded by the fact that limited treatment options are available, thereby increasing the risk of increased morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa; carbapenems; carbapenemases; Verona Integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM); Klebsiella pneumoniae carbepenemase (KPC); drug resistance