Detection of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance patterns of clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a worldwide gram negative bacteria that can live in a wide range of conditions and belongs to the Pseudomonadaceae family. About 120 different samples were obtained from different clinical sources from patients (two sexes and children) admitted to different types of hospitals (Burn center, Al-Kadhimiya Hospital, Alkarama hospital, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, al Saader hospital, Medical City - Ghazi Hariri Hospital for specialized Surgery, Educational laboratory, Al Yarmouk educational hospital and burn center in Yarmouk hospital) during the period from 10.8.2020 – 20.11.2020. Of the 120 samples, only 70 gave positive results for Pseudomonas spp. 50 of the 70 isolates were identified as P. aeruginosa isolates based on diagnostic results by biochemical tests. While the remaining fifty isolates belonging to other bacteria were shown pathogenic. The results showed a high resistance noted among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to Ceftazidime (90.0%), Aztreonam (76.0%). Moreover, all isolates were showed resistance to Amikacin in a percentage of 38.0%, also the resistance percentage of Norofloxacin was 38.0. While the study demonstrated that highly sensitive percentage of Levofloxacin, and Imipenem were 82.0%, and 80.0% respectively. Well as a sensitive percentage of Gentamycin, Tobramycin, and Ciprofloxacin were 72.0%, 66.0%, and 56.0% respectively. PCR detection of exoA and exoS of all 50 isolates showed the former gene to be present ExoA in 9 (18.0%) and exoS in 41 (82.0%). Furthermore, the results of this study found the highest frequency of Eox A gene in wound isolates 4 (44.44%), followed by burn isolates 3 (33.33%). For ten antibiotics tested, the Fisher exact test revealed not significant association between drug resistance and EoxA and Exo S gene (P value > 0.05). This study included 28 (56%) MDR isolates from a total of 50 P. aeruginosa isolates. The prevalence of two virulence genes among MDR P. aeruginosa clinical isolates was investigated, and the frequencies of EoxS, and ExoA genes (78.6%, and 21.4%) respectively. We conclude the predominant bacterial type of separate clinical sites was considered to belong to pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. The age range for infection was 14 - 75 years and the prevalence was higher for females than for males.