Antibiotic Resistance Properties ofPseudomonas aeruginosaIsolated From Cases of Superficial Infections at the Emergency Unit.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen, is one of the main causative agents of human superficial infections. Infections due to these bacteria are difficult to heal and cause serious economic issues.



The present study was carried out to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern ofP. aeruginosaisolated from cases of superficial infections referred to the emergency health care units of Iranian Hospitals.



Three hundred swab samples were collected from patients with superficial infections. Samples were cultured and those that wereP. aeruginosapositive were analyzed by the disk diffusion method.



One hundred and seventy-two out of 300 swab samples (57.3%) were positive forP. aeruginosa. The results of the culture technique were also confirmed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Females had a higher prevalence ofP. aeruginosathan males, patients older than 70 years were the most infected age group and finally burn infections had the highest prevalence of bacteria.P. aeruginosastrains had the highest levels of resistance against ampicillin (93%), gentamycin (89.5%), ciprofloxacin (82.5%) and amikacin (77.3%). The most effective drugs were meropenem (2.3%, imipenem (2.9%), polymyxin B (21.5%) and cotrimoxazole (31.9%).



It is logical to primarily prescribe meropenem, imipenem, polymyxin B and cotrimoxazole in the cases of superficial infections caused byP. aeruginosa. Medical practitioners should be aware of the presence of such levels of antibiotic resistance in cases of superficial infections in Iran.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, IR Iran.
Koorosh
K
Ahmadi
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Amir Masoud
AM
Hashemian
Department of Anesthesiology, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, IR Iran.
Seyyed Mohsen
SM
Pouryaghobi
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Reza
R
Akhavan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Sara
S
Rozmina
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
Ehsan
E
Bolvardi
Antibiotic Resistance; Emergency Health Care Units; Iran; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Superficial Infection