title: Clonal Relatedness among Imipenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from ICU-Hospitalized Patients.
abstract: Imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) has become an increasingly important problem in healthcare settings worldwide. The aim of the present study was to evaluate clonal spread among imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolated from ICU-hospitalized patients. Totally, 150 wound specimens were analyzed. Antibiotic resistance profiles and clonal diversity were evaluated using Kirby-Bauer's disk diffusion method and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA- (RAPD-) PCR, respectively. The isolates showed a high frequency of antibiotic resistance against meropenem, and imipenem (100%) followed by ciprofloxacin, and ceftazidime (90%); meanwhile resistance to polymyxin B was not observed. Eighteen (40%) of P. aeruginosa isolates were MBL-positive via ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) combined disk test. Our findings showed high genetic diversity, with 37 different RAPD types detected. RAPD typing results showed cross-acquisition of P. aeruginosa in investigated hospital, suggesting failure in infection control practices. Incidence of MBL-positive isolates is high and should be regarded as a threat to hospitalized patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vaez
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sharareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moghim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nasr Esfahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hajieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghasemian Safaei