Molecular Epidemiology of Carbapenemase and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Genes in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Nosocomial Wound Infections

Authors

  • Rahat Ullah Khan 1. Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan; 2. Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), CAS-TWAS Center of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEEID), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China; 3. College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China Author
  • Muhammad Usman Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Aysha Guria Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Aqsa Batool Institute of Biological Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Tooba Gul Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Ashifa Tehseen Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan Author
  • Rozina Nargis Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Noor Fatima Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Hifzar Ullah 1. Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), China; 2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, China Author
  • Farman Khan Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan Author
  • Arshad Ali Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31580/855dgj25

Keywords:

Antimicrobial resistance, Carbapenemase, ESBL, MDR, Molecular epidemiology, NDM-1, OXA-48, Wound infections

Abstract

The global spread of carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a significant threat to healthcare systems. This study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology of these resistance determinants in wound infection isolates. Over six months (March-August 2023), 112 non-duplicate Gram-negative isolates (65 P. aeruginosa and 47 K. pneumoniae) were collected from wound infections at a tertiary care hospital. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion and broth microdilution. Carbapenemase production was confirmed by the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM). Genotypic characterization of resistance genes (blaNDM-1, blaKPC-2, blaOXA-48, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA-1) was performed via multiplex PCR. Carbapenem resistance was found in 69.6% of isolates, with K. pneumoniae exhibiting higher resistance (76.6%) than P. aeruginosa (64.6%). The blaNDM-1 gene was predominant (47.4%), particularly in K. pneumoniae (58.3%). ESBL genes, especially blaTEM (71.8%) and blaSHV (44.9%), were also prevalent. Notably, 52.6% of carbapenem-resistant isolates co-harbored multiple resistance genes, with blaNDM-1 + blaTEM being the most common combination (25.6%). The study highlights the alarming prevalence of carbapenemase and ESBL genes in nosocomial wound isolates, with blaNDM-1 emerging as the dominant resistance mechanism. The high rate of genetic co-carriage underlines the emergence of pan-drug-resistant phenotypes, emphasizing the urgent need for molecular surveillance and enhanced infection control in hospital settings.

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Published

2025-09-30

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2025): July-September 2025

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Molecular Epidemiology of Carbapenemase and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Genes in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Nosocomial Wound Infections. (2025). Pak-Euro Journal of Medical and Life Sciences, 8(3), 693-700. https://doi.org/10.31580/855dgj25

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