Genotyping of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from People with Nosocomial Infections

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa nosocomial infections are among major problems associated with increased mortality and mobility among patients. Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the molecular epidemiology of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing P. aeruginosa genotypes isolated from patients with nosocomial infections. Methods: One hundred forty-six clinical isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were obtained from a tertiary referral hospital. Phenotypic identification and PCR detection of gyrB were used to characterize P. aeruginosa. Extended spectrum beta-lactamases in samples were identified using the disk approximation test and the combination disk test (CDT). The blaSHV and blaTEM genes were detected by PCR. The strains were typed by the pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), repetitive element sequence (Rep)-PCR, and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)–PCR methods. Results: A total of 134 (91.78%) P. aeruginosa isolates were separated, 41.79% of whom were related to nosocomial infections. The extended spectrum beta-lactamase analysis test revealed that 5.97% and 66.41% of the isolates harbored the blaSHV and blaTEM genes, respectively. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR, Rep-PCR, and PFGE each showed 56, 55, and 55 different patterns, respectively. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis indicated that pulso types C3 were dominant. Conclusions: The associations between ESBL production, blaSHV and blaTEM positivity, and ERIC, Rep-PCR, and PFGE patterns were not significant (P ≥ 0.05). Among nosocomial infections, a relatively high prevalence of ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates was observed in the Kurdistan province of Iran. Periodic review of antibiotic resistance and molecular characterization of P. aeruginosa isolates is recommended to prevent the spread of nosocomial infections in hospitals.