Genotypic characterization of carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacteria

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MRGN) are a serious threat and a challenge to the healthcare system. Carbapenems have been used as “antibiotics of last resort” for treatment of multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Unfortunately, the emergence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens (CRGNB) has increased dramatically in the last decade threatening this class of lifesaving drugs. In this study, 232 Gram negative pathogens were collected and screened for carbapenem resistance. Acinetobacter baumannii was found to be the highest carbarpenem resistant pathogen. Forty carbapenem resistant A.baumannii isolates were screened for the four main OXA-type carbapenemase sub-groups by PCR. The co-existence of multiple OXA-type genes was reported for the first time in Egyptian isolates of A.baumannii. The co-existence of multiple OXA genes were found in all the tested CRAB isolates, 75% were OXA- 23/OXA-24/OXA-51 carriers, 10% were OXA-23/OXA-51 carriers, 10% were OXA-24/OXA-51 carriers and 5% were OXA- 23/OXA-24 carriers. This study provides an alarming epidemiological snapshot on the distribution of OXA-type carbapenemes in Egypt.