Antimicrobial resistance genetic determinants and susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary hospital in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background Genetic determinants are known to promote antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer. Methods We molecularly characterized integrons, plasmid replicon types and metallo-β-lactamase-encoding genes of 38 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical samples. Results The P. aeruginosa isolates displayed high resistance (97.4%) to β-lactams. Seventeen (44.74%) of them possessed plasmids. Of the 17 isolates that possessed plasmids, 11 (64.7%) of them harboured IncFIA plasmid replicon type, while 6 (35.3%), 5 (29.4%) and 5 (29.4%) were of the IncFIB, IncF and IncW types, respectively. The intI1 gene was detected in 19 (50%) of the isolates. The blaNDM-A, blaNDM-B and blaVIM genes were detected in 14 (35.9%), 4 (10.3%) and 5 (12.8%) of the isolates, respectively. Conclusions High resistance to β-lactams was observed among P. aeruginosa strains of clinical origin in this study. They possessed transmissible genetic elements indicating the potential for continuous dissemination, thus continuous surveillance is advocated.