Molecular genetic features of <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Aim. To conduct a genetic analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to determine changes in their antibiotic resistance from 2012 to 2023. Materials and methods. In total, 174 strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients treated at a multidisciplinary hospital in Vladivostok (Russia) were investigated. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the year of strain isolation: 2012 and 2019 (prior to the coronavirus pandemic) and 2023 (following the pandemic). PCR was conducted using the OXA23, ISAbaI, IMP, VIM, TEM, and NDM antibiotic resistance genes.Results. The detection frequency of all studied genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance was found to increase over time. The highest growth was detected during the pandemic period (from 2019 to 2023) for ISAbaI (from 69 to 100%), VIM (from 50 to 70%), IMP (from 28 to 48%), and TEM (from 24 up to 96%).Conclusion. The emergence and spread of important genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance, including NDM-1, among P. aeruginosa was identified. This determines general trends in the population and indicates a growing distribution of antibiotic resistance determinants, and, accordingly, an increase in the overall level of resistance to antimicrobial drugs in HAI pathogens