Molecular characterizations of antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence determinants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn wound infection

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries result in disruption of the skin barrier against opportunistic infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the main infectious agents colonizing burn wounds and making severe infections. Biofilm production and other virulence factors along with antibiotic resistance limit appropriate treatment options and time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wound samples were collected from hospitalized burn patients. P. aeruginosa isolates and related virulence factors identified by the standard biochemical and molecular methods. Antibiotic resistance patterns were determined by the disc diffusion method and β‐lactamase genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. To determine the genetic relatedness amongst the isolates, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)‐PCR was also performed. RESULTS: Forty P. aeruginosa isolates were identified. All of these isolates were biofilm producers. Carbapenem resistance was detected in 40% of the isolates, and bla (TEM) (37/5%), bla (VIM) (30%), and bla (CTX‐M) (20%) were the most common β‐lactamase genes. The highest resistance was detected to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, meropenem, imipenem and piperacillin, and 16 (40%) isolates were resistant to these antibiotics. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of colistin was lower than 2 μg/mL and no resistance was observed. Isolates were categorized to 17 MDR, 13 mono‐drug resistance, and 10 susceptible isolates. High genetic diversity was also observed among the isolates (28 ERIC types) and most carbapenem‐resistant isolates were classified into four main types. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic resistance, particularly carbapenem resistance was considerable among the P. aeruginosa isolates colonizing burn wounds. Combining carbapenem resistance with biofilm production and virulence factors would result in severe and difficult‐to‐treat infections.