Induction of resistance to fluoroquinolones in clinical and environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

An attempt to induce resistance to ciprofloxacin in vitro was made against clinical and environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This in vitro manipulation of strains resulted in the increase of minimum inhibitory concentration from 0.4 microg/ml to 1 microg/ml of the original strains to 9.0 to 12.5 microg/ml indicating development of resistance to ciprofloxacin and a major decrease in the size of zone diameters of norfloxacin and ofloxacin indicating cross resistance to these agents. Results indicate the induced resistance to ciprofloxacin can promote development of cross resistance to other fluoroquinolones. This suggests that caution should be taken while using fluoroquinolones for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.     

The relative contribution of efflux and target gene mutations to fluoroquinolone resistance in recent clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The clinical utility of fluoroquinolones (FQs) for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and other serious Gram-negative infections is currently decreasing due to the rapid emergence of resistance. Because previous studies have shown that efflux is a common mechanism contributing to FQ resistance in PA, one suggested approach to extend the longevity of this class of drugs is combination therapy with an efflux pump inhibitor (EPI). In order to determine the viability of this approach, it is necessary to understand the relative contribution of efflux- vs. target-mediated mechanisms of FQ resistance in the clinic. A set of 26 recent PA clinical isolates were characterized for antibiotic resistance profiles, efflux pump expression, topoisomerase mutations, and FQ susceptibility with and without an EPI. The contribution of OprM to the overall antibiotic resistance was assessed in a subset of these strains. Our results suggest that the co-administration of an EPI with FQs or other antibiotics currently in use would not be sufficient to combat the complexity of resistance mechanisms now present in many clinical isolates.     

铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株主动外排泵的检测

目的了解铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株的耐药特点及其外排泵存在的状况。方法采用K-B法检测铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株对9种常用抗生素（庆大霉素、氨曲南、头孢他啶、亚胺培南、阿米卡星、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、环丙沙星、左氧氟沙星、多粘菌素B）的耐药情况;通过外排泵抑制剂氰氯苯腙（CCCP）对四种药物（羧苄青霉素、红霉素、亚胺培南、庆大霉素）的琼脂稀释法抑制试验分别检测铜绿假单胞菌的四种外排泵（MexAB-OprM、MexCD-OprJ、MexEF-OprN、MexXY-OprM）的表型;应用PCR检测MexAB-OprM外排泵调节基因mexR的存在情况。结果铜绿假单胞菌对9种常用抗生素的耐药率依次为：庆大霉素36.67%（22/60）,氨曲南33.33%（20/60）,头孢他啶31.67%（19/60）,亚胺培南28.33%（17/60）,阿米卡星26.67%（16/60）,哌拉西林/他唑巴坦23.33%（14/60）,环丙沙星21.67%（13/60）,左氧氟沙星11.67%（7/60）,多粘菌素B为0。外排泵表型阳性株依次为：MexAB-OprM35株,阳性率58.33%（35/60）;MexXY-OprM13株,阳性率21.67%（13/60）;MexCD-OprJ11株,阳性率18.33%（11/60）;MexEF-OprN10株,阳性率16.67%（10/60）。35株MexAB-OprM外排泵表型阳性株中有28株扩增出mexR基因片段,检出率为80.0%（28/35）。结论铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株对庆大霉素耐药率最高,对多粘菌素B耐药率最低;MexAB-OprM外排泵的存在是铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株的重要耐药机制。     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa: acquired in vitro resistance to beta-lactams

The development of resistance acquired in vitro to 5 semi-synthetic penicillins: carbenicillin, ticarcillin, azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin and to 5 cephalosporins: cefotaxime, cefoperazone, moxalactam, cefsulodin and ceftazidime, was compared in 6 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strains were selected on the basis of their phenotypic resistance: 3 were susceptible to all the betalactam antibiotics tested, 1 was resistant to carbenicillin and ticarcillin but remained susceptible to the others, 2 were susceptible to cefsulodin and ceftazidime but resistant to the others. The development of resistance was investigated by subsequent passages in liquid medium: up to 15 passages or up to an MIC of 4 096 mg/l for a penicillin or 512 mg/l for the cephalosporins. Irrespectively of the phenotypic resistance, for all cephalosorins the MIC became greater than or equal to 64 mg/l and very often greater than or equal to 512 mg/l after 1 to 3 passages. For the penicillin susceptible strains very high MICs were obtained more rapidly with azlocillin and piperacillin (1-2 passages) than with carbenicillin or ticarcillin (5-9 passages). These results are not in favour of a monotherapy with betalactam antibiotics, especially cephalosporins, in the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, but suggest the preferential use of carbenicillin and especially ticarcillin for sensitive isolates.     

Evaluation of fluoroquinolone resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug resistance clinical isolates

Efflux transporters have a considerable role in the multidrug resistance (MDR) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important nosocomial pathogen. In this study, 45 P. aeruginosa clinical strains, with an MDR phenotype, have been isolated in a hospital of Northern Italy and characterized to identify the mechanisms responsible for their fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance. These isolates were analyzed for clonal similarity, mutations in genes encoding the FQ targets, overexpression of specific Resistance Nodulation-cell Division efflux pumps, and search for mutations in their regulatory genes. The achieved results suggested that the mutations in genes encoding ciprofloxacin targets represented the main mechanism of FQ resistance of these strains; 97.8% of these isolates showed mutations in gyrA, 28.9% in gyrB, 88.9% in parC, and 6.7% in parE. Another mechanism of resistance was overexpression of the efflux pumps in some representative strains. In particular, overexpression of MexXY-OprM drug transporter was found in five isolates, whereas overexpression of MexCD-OprJ was detected in two isolates; surprisingly, in one of these last two isolates, also overexpression of MexAB-OprM pump was identified.     

Plasmid mediated amikacin resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Ten multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, obtained from hospitalized burn patients, were selected for plasmid detection, curing and transformation experiments. These isolates were also studied for plasmid mediated resistance. All the isolates were found to harbour R plasmid. Curing and transformation experiments showed that resistance to amikacin was plasmid mediated. -lactamase production was also tested. It is suggested that plasmids should be characterised in all MDR P. aeruginosa strains and a nation wide antibiotic policy should be made to minimise the emergence of drug resistance.     

Investigation of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates

Aims: To investigate plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes have been identified in many bacteria within the Enterobactericeae family, they have not been detected in P. aeruginosa isolates. Subjects and Methods: Identification of the isolates and testing of antibiotic susceptibility was performed in Vitek2 Compact (Biomeriux, France) and Phoinex (BD, USA) automated systems. Screening for the qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, qnrC, aac (6′)-Ib-cr and qepA genes was carried out by PCR amplification and aac (6′)-Ib-cr DNA sequencing. Results: The qnr and the qepA genes were not detected in any of P. aeruginosa isolates. The aac (6’)-Ib gene was detected in six of the isolates and positive isolates for aac (6’)-Ib were sequenced for detection of the aac (6’)-Ib-cr variant but aac (6’)-Ib-cr was not detected in any isolates. Conclusions: Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes have so far not been identified in P. aeruginosa isolates. However, qnrB have detected in P. florescens and P. putida isolates. This is the first study conducted on the qnrA, qnrB, qnrS and qnrC genes as well as the qepA and aac (6’)-Ib-cr genes in P. aeruginosa clinical isolates.     

Adaptive resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Aminoglycoside-resistant variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 were readily selected by culturing the organism in medium containing increasing concentrations of gentamicin, tobramycin or amikacin until the strains were growing in a concentration of drug 128-fold greater than the minimal inhibitory concentration for the sensitive parent strain. These resistant strains exhibited characteristics previously associated with the impermeability type of resistance mechanism, i.e., they grew more slowly than the parent strain, the resistance was unstable in the absence of the antibiotic, and adaptation to one of the antibiotics conferred cross-resistance to other aminoglycosides. The adapted strains grew, with minimal morphological alterations, in concentrations of the various aminoglycosides that normally produced cell envelope damage, misshapen and filamentous cell formation, and cell lysis in the sensitive strain. Neither protein H1 nor phospholipid alterations appear to play a significant role in adaptive resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics in this model system. The acquisition of adaptive resistance to the aminoglycoside antibiotics did not confer resistance to polymyxin B, another cationic antibiotic which is thought to share binding sites within the outer membrane with the aminoglycosides.     

Beta-lactamase-mediated resistance to extended spectrum cephalosporins among clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The role of chromosomal cephalosporinases and secondary beta-lactamases in resistance to extended spectrum cephalosporins in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated. Strains 687, 59, and 58 expressed an inducible chromosomal cephalosporinase, efficiently enhanced with cefoxitin and imipenem. The inducible activity in strain 802 was produced at a moderately elevated basal level and may be involved in resistance to extended spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam. All strains produced secondary beta-lactamases inhibited by clavulanate: strains 687, 59, and 58 had carbenicillinases with pIs of 5.7 and 5.3. Strain 802 expressed a secondary beta-lactamase of pI 7.6 which may be a novel extended spectrum beta-lactamase different from known enzymes of P. aeruginosa.     

In vivo-acquired resistance to cefsulodin by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

We isolated a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain which was initially cefsulodin-susceptible (J1, MIC = 4 g/l) and became resistant (J2, MIC greater than 64 g/l) after 12 days of treatment of the patient with cefsulodin. Strain J2 had a constitutive beta-lactamase with hydrolytic activities similar to those of a cephalosporinase and an isoelectric point at 8.1. This enzyme (Case) may be related to the ld type. Concomitant development of resistances to various beta-lactams stable to Case suggests that other mechanisms of resistance may be involved.     

Mechanisms of resistance in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa less susceptible to cefepime than to ceftazidime

The MIC of cefepime determined with the MicroScan WalkAway system was ≥2 times higher than that of ceftazidime for 105 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This phenotype was confirmed by reference microdilution in 68 (64.8%) isolates, corresponding to 48 different rep-PCR patterns. The PSE-1 blactamase was identified in only 13.2% isolates, while oxacillinases were not identified in any of the 68 isolates. The level of expression of mexB, mexD and mexY was determined by real-time RT-PCR in eight clinical isolates representative of the different clones and patterns of susceptibility to cefepime and ceftazidime and in strain PAO1. All clinical strains overexpressed the mexY gene (18.3- to 152.7-fold in comparison with PAO1), although there was not a linear relationship between MIC of cefepime and level of mexY expression. Five of these strains contained mutations in the regulatory gene mexZ. mexD and mexB were also overexpressed in three and two isolates, respectively. Different mutations were observed in the regulatory genes nalD, mexR, nfxB and nalC. In conclusion, we have documented in our institution a polyclonal spread of P. aeruginosa with higher MICs of cefepime than of ceftazidime, related to overexpression of Mex-XY-OprM, coincident in some isolates with the production of PSE-1, Mex-CD-OprJ or MexAB-OprM.     

Synergistic effect of fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in a biofilm

Ulifloxacin is the active form of the prodrug prulifloxacin and shows a highly potent antipseudomonal activity. In this study, we examined the combined effect of fosfomycin and ulifloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) growing in a biofilm using a modified Robbins device with artificial urine, and compared it to that of the combination of fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin. An ATP bioluminescence assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the agents against sessile cells in a mature biofilm developed on a silicon disk. The total bioactivity of P. aeruginosa growing in a biofilm that had not been fully eradicated by fosfomycin or any of the fluoroquinolones alone at 10 times the MIC decreased after combination treatment with fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones. Morphological changes occurred in a time-dependent fashion; namely, swollen and/or rounding cells emerged within a couple of hours after combination treatment, marking the initial stage in the process leading to the destruction of the biofilms. We could not find any difference among the 3 fluoroquinolones with regard to their synergistic effects when administered with fosfomycin. The combination treatment of fosfomycin and fluoroquinolones with highly potent antipseudomonal activities was effective in eradicating sessile cells of P. aeruginosa in the biofilm and promises to be beneficial against biofilm-associated infectious diseases.     

Instability of in vitro resistance to imipenem in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In 3 from 19 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa imipenem-resistant subpopulations could be detected in vitro. In comparison to their wild strains these imipenem-resistant cells were lacking an outer-membrane-protein of 50 kD. In the subpopulation derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa 76 resistance to imipenem was found to be instable. It could be lost within a short period of time after subcultivation in the absence of imipenem. Cells with restored sensitivity to imipenem possess the outer membrane protein of 50 kD as the wild strain does.     

湖南省铜绿假单胞菌四种外排泵在多重耐药菌株中表达的分布及作用

目的 探讨湖南省多重耐药(multi-drug resistance,MDR)铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonasaeruginosa,Pa)中4种外排泵表达的分布和作用,以及相关调控基因的突变情况.方法 收集2008年湖南省临床首次分离非重复多重耐药Pa株40株,以外排泵抑制剂苯丙氨酸-精氨酸-β萘酰胺及4种药敏纸片进行外排泵表型初步筛选,PCR扩增膜融合蛋白基因及相关外排泵调控基因并测序;以18组非多重耐药菌株为对照研究分析Pa外排泵基因表达在多重耐药中的作用.结果 表型筛选MDR组菌株MexAB-OprM、MexCD-OprJ、MexEF-oprN、MexXY-OprM阳性率分别为45.0%(18/40)、30.0%(12/40)、42.5%(17/40)、12.5%(5/40);RT-PCR显示mexA、mexC、mexE和mexX表达阳性率分别为100%(58/58)、22.5%(9/40),45.0%(18/40)和22.5%(9/40).Real-time PCR半定量分析菌株超表达mexA和mexX阳性率分别为55.0%(22/40)和22.5%(9/40).非多重耐药组中,mexA与mexX real-time PCR超表达阳性率均为0(0/18).mexC和mexE RT-PCR表达阳性率分别为11.1%(2/18)、38.9%(7/18).两组相比,mexA与mexX超表达差异有统计学意义(P<0.001,P=0.045).随机挑选超表达mexA菌株Pa20出现mexR的164GTG→GAG、126Val→Gh替代;超表达mexX菌株Pa34出现mexZ的164GCG→GAG、55Ala→Glu.结论 湖南省多重耐药Pa株大多存在主动外排的耐药机制,其耐药与外排基因Mex-AB-OprM和MexXY-OprM超表达有关.主动外排泵MexAB-OprM和MexXY-OprM超表达大多存在其调控基因突变.     

Resistance to antibiotics in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the global resistance to some antibiotics used to treat nosocomial infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, specially to carbapenems, and its relationship with the presence of carbapenemases, OXA, VIM and IMP. METHODS: The study included 229 P. aeruginosa isolates from a Hospital in Northern Spain (year 2002). Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined by the analysis of the MIC. Genetic typing was carried out by RAPD-PCR fingerprinting with primer ERIC-2. Genetic experiments to detect class-1 integrons were performed by PCR with primers 5'CS and 3'CS. Detection of carbapenemases was done by phenotypic (Hodge test and DDST) and genotypic methods (PCR with primers for imp, vim1, vim2 and oxa40 genes). RESULTS: 23.9% of isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 35.9% to cefotaxime, 5.3% to amikacin, 54.9% to gentamicin, 14.6% to imipenem and 6.6% to meropenem. Isolates resistant to imipenem (33) were furtherly tested. Genetic typing didn't show clonal relatedness among the most of the isolates. Class-1 integrons were present in most isolates (sizes 600-1700 bp). Phenotypic methods for carbapenemases showed 5 positive isolates. Genotypic methods showed the presence of two isolates with the oxa40 gene. CONCLUSIONS: Meropenem, amikacin and imipenem were the most active agents to treat infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In our study, the presence of carbapenemase enzymes wasn't high. Phenotypic tests cannot be considered as accurate screening tool to detect carbapenemases. This is the fist report of the oxa40 gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates.     

Characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in relation to laboratory-induced resistance to gentamicin.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain C2 was habituated to gentamicin by serial passage in broth containing increasing concentrations of the antibiotic and up to 250 microgram/ml. The resistant progenies differed from the parent strain in antibiotic susceptibility to two other aminoglycosides, colonial morphology, lytic phage patterns, phage adsorption, and agglutination with the seven Fisher's antisera. All the progenies failed to grow at 42 degrees C and oxidised glucose in O/F tubes after incubation at 37 degrees C for three days but were catalase- and oxidase-positive. Reversion to the original properties of the parent strain was demonstrated in all cases after 10 serial subcultures in antibiotic-free broth.