DETECTION OF BIOFILM PRODUCTION AMONG MBLS-PRODUCING PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA CARRYING ALGD, PELF, PSLD GENES ISOLATED FROM BURN CENTER IN AL-NAJAF GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

Abstract

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a worldwide cause of chronic and acute infections of burn wounds. Aim of study: Detection of algD, pelF, and pslD genes encoding biofilm formation among isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that producing metallo β-lactamases. Materials and Methods: 93 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from 362 inpatients with infected burn wounds at the burn center in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq, from September 2022 to February 2023. Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were identified microscopically, phenotypically, culturally, and biochemically then by using the double-disc synergy method to test their capacity to produce metallo β-lactamases. Out of the 25 MBLs-producers, 22 (88%) were biofilm-producing isolates when tested by tissue culture plate method, 4 (16%), 10 (40%), and 8 (32%) were, respectively, weak, medium, and strongly biofilm producers. 25 metallo β-lactamases-producers under study, which had previously been evaluated using biofilm phenotypic method, were subjected to the investigation of biofilm encoding genes by using polymerase chain reaction technique. This molecular technique detected 21 (84%) isolates carried single and multiple biofilm encoding genes, 10(40%) isolates had algD gene, 6 (24%) isolates harbored algD and pslD genes and 5(20%) isolates carried algD, pelF and pslD genes. The single pslD and pelF genes were not detected among test isolates. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of biofilmproducers among metallo β-lactamases-producing P. aeruginosa isolates. In addition, a clear positive correlation was observed between the multiple genes encoding biofilm and the degree of biofilm production among metallo β-lactamases-producers and close association between metallo β-lactamases and biofilms production, which explains the prevalence of carbapenems resistance and biofilm-production in this study because biofilm provides the appropriate environment for antibiotic resistance in general and carbapenems in particular