Study of Colistin Resistance Encoded by the mcr-1 Gene in Community and Clinical Pseudomonas in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Abstract

In order to demonstrate the transmission of resistance genes between clinical and community Pseudomonas, 61 strains of Pseudomonas including 47 (77.04%) community Pseudomonas and 14 (22.96%) clinical Pseudomonas were tested with antibiotics by the method of diffusion of the antibiotic discs in solid medium on Mueller Hinton medium. Thirty four strains of DNA comprising 20 (58.82%) community strains and 14 (41.18%) clinical strains exhibiting colistin resistance were extracted; then, the mcr-1 resistance gene was detected by PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that tobramycin and ciprofloxacin were more active in community and clinical Pseudomonas. The difference was significant with one p<0.05 for five antibiotics between community and clinical Pseudomonas. PCRs of the mcr-1 gene are positive for 8 (40%) community Pseudomonas strains and 5 (35.71%) clinical Pseudomonas strains. The amplified mcr-1 gene fragments were different in size in clinical Pseudomonas.