MBL PRODUCING P.PENNERI - A MAJOR THREAT TO THE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Proteus spp. has been the signicant cause of wound infections as they commonly colonize the wound. Simultaneously multiple drug resistance mechanisms also pose a therapeutic challenge. P.penneri is commonly misidentied as P.mirabilis which is multidrug resistant. Aim and objectives: The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MBLs in P.penneri among wound infections at a tertiary care hospital from Western Maharashtra. Material and Methods: Specimens collected from wounds of OPD and IPD patients were examined by standard bacteriological methods. All Proteus isolates were subjected to Antimicrobial susceptibility and MBL production test as per CLSI guidelines. Results: Total 1826 wound samples were screened over the period of May 2017 to July 2018. Overall prevalence of Proteus spp. was 7.12%, P.mirabilis being the commonest. Among all isolates 53.68% and 37.04% of P.mirabilis and P.vulgaris were ESBL producers, respectively. The rate for MBL production was 11.58% and 0% for P.mirabilis and P.vulgaris, respectively. On the contrary 75% of P.penneri isolates were ESBL producers and 12.5% were MBL producers. Discussion and conclusion: Emergence of ESBL and MBL producers is of special concern as Proteus spp. is intrinsically resistant to tigecycline and colistin. Identication of P.penneri from clinical specimens is necessary, due to its multidrug resistance which makes clinical treatment extremely difcult. This will limit its control and eradication especially from wound infections as they are common colonizers. Therefore isolation of such beta lactamases producing P.penneri shall be considered as an alarming sign to control the spread of this superbug.