title: Prevalence and risk factors of Metallo β-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in burns and surgical wards in a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The production of Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) is one of the resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species. There is not much Indian data on the prevalence of MBLs in burns and surgical wards.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 non-duplicate isolates of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species, isolated from pus/wound swabs and endotracheal secretions from burns and surgical wards, were tested for MBL production by modified ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) disc synergy and double disc synergy tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of MBLs was 26.9% by both the above tests. All MBL-positive isolates were multidrug resistant. Only 6.06% (2/33) P.aeruginosa and 16.67% (1/06) Acinetobacter species were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam and netilmycin, respectively. These patients had multiple risk factors like >8 days hospital stay, catheterization, IV lines, previous antibiotic use, mechanical ventilation, etc. Graft application and surgical intervention were significant risk factors in MBL-positive patients. Overall mortality in MBL-positive patients was 34.21%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emergence of MBL-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species in this hospital is alarming, which reflect excessive use of carbapenems and at the same time, pose a therapeutic challenge to clinicians as well as to microbiologists. Therefore, a strict antibiotic policy and implementation of proper infection control practices will go a long way to prevent further spread of MBLs. Detection of MBLs should also become mandatory in all hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, L.T.M. Medical College, Sion, Mumbai - 400 022, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Simit H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Anuradha S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: De
authors.forename: Sujata M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baveja
authors.forename: Madhuri A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gore