Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common causative agent of hospital-acquired infections and exhibits resistance to many antibiotics, including beta-lactams. One of the mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactams is the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. This study investigated the genetic p...

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Main Authors: Elmira Shah Cheraghi, Mozhgan Ghiasian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Golestan University of Medical Sciences 2024-11-01
Series:Medical Laboratory Journal
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Online Access:http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1866-en.pdf
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author Elmira Shah Cheraghi
Mozhgan Ghiasian
author_facet Elmira Shah Cheraghi
Mozhgan Ghiasian
author_sort Elmira Shah Cheraghi
collection DOAJ
description Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common causative agent of hospital-acquired infections and exhibits resistance to many antibiotics, including beta-lactams. One of the mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactams is the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. This study investigated the genetic pattern of resistant P. aeruginosa strains concerning the presence of the gene encoding the MexAB-OprM efflux pump Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in Isfahan, and 110 strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from various clinical samples were identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was conducted using the disk diffusion method, and strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were identified using the double disk diffusion method. The gene encoding the MexAB-OprM efflux pump in these strains was investigated using polymerase chain reaction. Results: A significant proportion of the 101 P. aeruginosa isolates originated from the emergency department and ICU-2, highlighting the clinical significance of this pathogen in these settings. Meropenem demonstrated a high resistance rate (74%), while gentamicin exhibited lower resistance (33.33%). Resistance rates to amikacin, levofloxacin, cefepime, ceftazidime, tazocin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone were 40.4%, 68%, 65.34%, 66.33%, 57.42%, 71.42%, and 50%, respectively. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) was 29.7%, and the MexAB-OprM efflux pump gene was identified in 80% of ESBL-producing strains, suggesting a potential role in multidrug resistance. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a strong association between the presence of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in P. aeruginosa. This observation suggests that the MexAB-OprM efflux pump plays a pivotal role in the development of multidrug resistance in this pathogen. Future studies should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation and function of this efflux system to inform the design of novel antimicrobial agents and combination therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-3ad1b17df4a64f9987acbfced16eaea22025-08-20T02:19:23ZengGolestan University of Medical SciencesMedical Laboratory Journal2538-44492024-11-011862427Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosaElmira Shah Cheraghi0Mozhgan Ghiasian1 Department of Microbiology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Department of Microbiology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a common causative agent of hospital-acquired infections and exhibits resistance to many antibiotics, including beta-lactams. One of the mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactams is the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. This study investigated the genetic pattern of resistant P. aeruginosa strains concerning the presence of the gene encoding the MexAB-OprM efflux pump Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted between 2022 and 2023 in Isfahan, and 110 strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from various clinical samples were identified. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was conducted using the disk diffusion method, and strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were identified using the double disk diffusion method. The gene encoding the MexAB-OprM efflux pump in these strains was investigated using polymerase chain reaction. Results: A significant proportion of the 101 P. aeruginosa isolates originated from the emergency department and ICU-2, highlighting the clinical significance of this pathogen in these settings. Meropenem demonstrated a high resistance rate (74%), while gentamicin exhibited lower resistance (33.33%). Resistance rates to amikacin, levofloxacin, cefepime, ceftazidime, tazocin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone were 40.4%, 68%, 65.34%, 66.33%, 57.42%, 71.42%, and 50%, respectively. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) was 29.7%, and the MexAB-OprM efflux pump gene was identified in 80% of ESBL-producing strains, suggesting a potential role in multidrug resistance. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a strong association between the presence of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in P. aeruginosa. This observation suggests that the MexAB-OprM efflux pump plays a pivotal role in the development of multidrug resistance in this pathogen. Future studies should focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation and function of this efflux system to inform the design of novel antimicrobial agents and combination therapies.http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1866-en.pdfpseudomonas aeruginosabeta-lactamasesmexab-oprm efflux pump
spellingShingle Elmira Shah Cheraghi
Mozhgan Ghiasian
Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
Medical Laboratory Journal
pseudomonas aeruginosa
beta-lactamases
mexab-oprm efflux pump
title Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
title_full Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
title_fullStr Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
title_full_unstemmed Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
title_short Molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta-lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
title_sort molecular characterization of efflux pumps in beta lactam resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa
topic pseudomonas aeruginosa
beta-lactamases
mexab-oprm efflux pump
url http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/article-1-1866-en.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT elmirashahcheraghi molecularcharacterizationofeffluxpumpsinbetalactamresistantpseudomonasaeruginosa
AT mozhganghiasian molecularcharacterizationofeffluxpumpsinbetalactamresistantpseudomonasaeruginosa