Carbapenems Resistance And Homology Analysis Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa In 28 Hospitals In China

ObjectiveTo investigate carbapenem resistance and homology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from 28 hospitals in China.MethodsMICs of carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem) were determined by agar dilution. Homology of carbapenem-resistant strains was analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Metallo-beta-lactamases ( MBLs ) were detected by Etest and PCR in carbapenem-nonsusceptible strains.ResultsForty-two percent (275/654) strains were carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa including 259 carbapenem-resistant strains. The resistance rates to imipenem and meropenem were 37.5% (245/654) and 28.0% (183/654), respectively. Twenty-four strains were positive by PCR while 18 strains were positive by Etest in MBLs detection. MBL expression levels of the 6 PCR-positive but Etest-negative strains were significantly lower than the other 18 strains. Eighty-nine PFGE types were observed among the 259 carbapenem-resistant strains.ConclusionsThe resistance to carbapenems of P. aeruginosa is severe in China. Clonal dissemination existed in some hospitals, but not among different hospitals. MBLs was not the major carbapenem-resistant mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in China.