title: Nosocomial spread of the integron-located veb-1-like cassette encoding an extended-pectrum beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Thailand.
abstract: The beta-lactamase gene content and epidemiology of ceftazidime-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates (24% of the total number of P. aeruginosa isolates) were investigated at a University Hospital in Thailand during a 4-month period in 1999. Of 33 nonrepetitive clinical isolates, 31 produced a VEB-1-like clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). These isolates belonged to different pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types and subtypes. In 1 case, the bla(VEB-1)-like gene was plasmid located. The bla(VEB-1)-like genes were present as a gene cassette on class 1 integrons that varied in size and structure. In most cases, the veb-1 cassette was associated with an arr-2 cassette (rifampin resistance), aminoglycoside resistance gene cassettes, and an oxa-10-like cassette encoding a narrow-spectrum oxacillinase-type beta-lactamase. The present study indicates that ESBLs may be endemic in P. aeruginosa and illustrates that integrons are efficient means for their spread.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology-Virology, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Girlich
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naas
authors.forename: Amornrut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leelaporn
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poirel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fennewald
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordmann
mesh_terms: D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002442:Ceftazidime; D019426:Integrases; D001618:beta-Lactamases