The pattern of antibiotic resistance and distribution of the biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PelD, PslB) isolated from infectious hospital departments.

Background: The ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to produce biofilm has established it as one of the most significant pathogens. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antimicrobial resistance and conduct a molecular investigation of the virulence genes PslB and PelD in Pseudomonas aeruginosa species isolated from patients.

Methodology: One hundred clinical isolates were collected from patients of different age groups who were hospitalized in Kermanshah and Sonqor hospitals. The isolates were obtained through culture on specific media, biochemical confirmatory tests, and gram staining for confirmation. Biofilm production was assessed using an indirect quantification method with crystal violet. Additionally, antibiotic resistance was determined through the disc various method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Finally, the presence of genes related to PlsB and PelD in resistant strains was examined using The polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: The results indicate that the highest resistance and lowest sensitivity were related to nitrofurantoin 100 μg, while the lowest resistance and highest sensitivity were related to cefepime 30 mg. Biofilm phenotypes were categorized as weak in 7% (n = 7) of isolates, medium in 13% (n = 13), and high in 80% (n = 80). The PslB and PelD genes were identified in 86% (n = 86) and 38% (n = 38) of isolates, respectively, while 4% (n = 4) did not possess either of these two genes. Additionally, a majority of the isolates exhibited multidrug-resistance (87%) due to their moderate-to-high biofilm formation.

Conclusion: All isolates were capable of producing biofilm. A significant association were between strains with the high biofilm and multidrug-resistance species (p < 0.05). Multidrug-resistance (78%) isolates included 28% (n = 28) of isolates that were PslB+ PelD+, 45% (n = 45) of isolates that were only PslB+, and 5 (n = 5) isolates that were only PelD+. A significant relationship was found between the presence of the PslB gene multidrug-resistance and high producer (p < 0.05).