Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from ICU

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
Yasser M. Ismail ◽  
Sahar M. Fayed ◽  
Aliaa H. Wehedy

Background: P.aeruginosa has many virulence factors which are the main reason for infection and the emergence of antibiotic resistance leading to an increase of morbidity and mortality. Currently, multidrug resistance is the hardest problem, which made it imperative to search for alternative treatment strategies. Objective: detection of some phenotypic virulence factors of P.aeruginosa isolated from ICU patients and the possibility of any antibiotic resistance related to certain virulence factors released by P. aeruginosa. Methodology: Our study was carried out on patients admitted to ICU Department in Benha University Hospital and infected with P.aeruginosa, the isolates subjected to phenotypic detection of the virulence factors: phospholipase, alkaline protease, lipase, gelatinase, esculin hydrolysis, biofilm formation, hemolysin and DNase production using specific media for each and evaluation of the antibiotic susceptability pattern using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion assay. Results: P.aeruginosa virulence factors were recorded as follow: hemolysin (70%) followed by alkaline protease (68%), phospholipase (62%), gelatinase & biofilm formation (60%) for each, lipase & bile esculin hydrolysis (54%) for each and DNase (2%).High antibiotic resistance was detected to mostly all of the used antibiotic discs. Also, presence of invasive device, prolonged hospital stay, ICU stay and higher number of virulence factors were associated with poor outcome. Conclusions: Production of different phenotypic virulence factors in high amount reflects their important role in spread of infection and pathogenicity with increased antibiotic resistance. Therefore finding anti-virulence factors as adjuvant therapy has an important role in treatment of P. aeruginosa especially MDR isolates.

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Angela França ◽  
Vânia Gaio ◽  
Nathalie Lopes ◽  
Luís D. R. Melo

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have emerged as major pathogens in healthcare-associated facilities, being S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and, more recently, S. lugdunensis, the most clinically relevant species. Despite being less virulent than the well-studied pathogen S. aureus, the number of CoNS strains sequenced is constantly increasing and, with that, the number of virulence factors identified in those strains. In this regard, biofilm formation is considered the most important. Besides virulence factors, the presence of several antibiotic-resistance genes identified in CoNS is worrisome and makes treatment very challenging. In this review, we analyzed the different aspects involved in CoNS virulence and their impact on health and food.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1075-1082
Author(s):  
S. Derakhshan ◽  
A. Rezaee ◽  
Sh. Mohammadi

Background and aim. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered as a notorious pathogen due to its multidrug resistance and life threatening infections. We investigated the relationship between type III secretion toxins, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance among clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. Methods. A total of 70 genetically distinct clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were characterized for antibiotic resistance by disk diffusion assay. Biofilm formation was evaluated by microtiter plate method and presence of four exo genes (exoS, exoU, exoT and exoY) was investigated by PCR. A p-value < 0.05 was regarded statistically significant. Results. The most effective antibiotics were Meropenem and Piperacillin. Multidrug resistance was more prevalent in the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates than in the susceptible isolates. The most frequently identified exo was exoS (37.1%). Genotype exoS/exoT was found in 4 isolates, while genotype exoU/exoT was not found. Prevalence of exoS was generally higher in the susceptible isolates than in the resistant isolates. A significant association was found between the formation of strong biofilm and resistance to antibiotics (p < 0.05). Prevalence of exoY and exoU was higher in the non-strong biofilm producers compared to the strong biofilm producers. Conclusion. Our study revealed formation of strong biofilm along with antibiotic resistance and the presence of exo genes in P. aeruginosa isolates. Knowledge of virulence gene profiles and biofilm formation may be useful in deciding appropriate treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Fasciana ◽  
Bernardina Gentile ◽  
Maria Aquilina ◽  
Andrea Ciammaruconi ◽  
Chiara Mascarella ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endemic presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenem in Italy has been due principally to the clonal expansion of CC258 isolates; however, recent studies suggest an ongoing epidemiological change in this geographical area. Methods 50 K. pneumoniae strains, 25 carbapenem-resistant (CR-Kp) and 25 susceptible (CS-Kp), collected from march 2014 to march 2016 at the Laboratory of Bacteriology of the Paolo Giaccone Polyclinic University hospital of Palermo, Italy, were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility and fully sequenced by next generation sequencing (NGS) for the in silico analysis of resistome, virulome, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and core single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes Results MLST in silico analysis of CR-Kp showed that 52% of isolates belonged to CC258, followed by ST395 (12%), ST307 (12%), ST392 (8%), ST348 (8%), ST405 (4%) and ST101 (4%). In the CS-Kp group, the most represented isolate was ST405 (20%), followed by ST392 and ST15 (12%), ST395, ST307 and ST1727 (8%). The in silico β-lactamase analysis of the CR-Kp group showed that the most detected gene was blaSHV (100%), followed by blaTEM (92%), blaKPC (88%), blaOXA (88%) and blaCTX-M (32%). The virulome analysis detected mrk operon in all studied isolates, and wzi-2 was found in three CR-Kp isolates (12%). Furthermore, the distribution of virulence genes encoding for the yersiniabactin system, its receptor fyuA and the aerobactin system did not show significant distribution differences between CR-Kp and CS-Kp, whereas the Klebsiella ferrous iron uptake system (kfuA, kfuB and kfuC genes), the two-component system kvgAS and the microcin E495 were significantly (p < 0.05) prevalent in the CS-Kp group compared to the CR-Kp group. Core SNP genotyping, correlating with the MLST data, allowed greater strain tracking and discrimination than MLST analysis. Conclusions Our data support the idea that an epidemiological change is ongoing in the Palermo area (Sicily, Italy). In addition, our analysis revealed the co-existence of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in CR-Kp isolates; this characteristic should be considered for future genomic surveillance studies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feiruz Alamiri ◽  
Yashuan Chao ◽  
Maria Baumgarten ◽  
Kristian Riesbeck ◽  
Anders P. Hakansson

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus [GAS]) in model systems mimicking the respiratory tract is poorly documented. Most studies have been conducted on abiotic surfaces, which poorly represent human tissues. We have previously shown that GAS forms mature and antibiotic-resistant biofilms on physiologically relevant epithelial cells. However, the roles of the substratum, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and GAS virulence factors in biofilm formation and structure are unclear. In this study, biofilm formation was measured on respiratory epithelial cells and keratinocytes by determining biomass and antibiotic resistance, and biofilm morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy. All GAS isolates tested formed biofilms that had similar, albeit not identical, biomass and antibiotic resistance for both cell types. Interestingly, functionally mature biofilms formed more rapidly on keratinocytes but were structurally denser and coated with more ECM on respiratory epithelial cells. The ECM was crucial for biofilm integrity, as protein- and DNA-degrading enzymes induced bacterial release from biofilms. Abiotic surfaces supported biofilm formation, but these biofilms were structurally less dense and organized. No major role for M protein, capsule, or streptolysin O was observed in biofilm formation on epithelial cells, although some morphological differences were detected. NAD-glycohydrolase was required for optimal biofilm formation, whereas streptolysin S and cysteine protease SpeB impaired this process. Finally, no correlation was found between cell adherence or autoaggregation and GAS biofilm formation. Combined, these results provide a better understanding of the role of biofilm formation in GAS pathogenesis and can potentially provide novel targets for future treatments against GAS infections.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Magdalena Ratajczak ◽  
Dorota Kaminska ◽  
Jolanta Dlugaszewska ◽  
Marzena Gajecka

The spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics affects various areas of life. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other bacteria mainly from orders Enterobacterales and Staphylococcus in the pharmaceutical production sites, and to characterize isolated strains in the aspects of antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and presence of genes encoding virulence factors. Genes encoding selected virulence factors were detected using PCR techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was applied in accordance with the EUCAST recommendations. A total of 46 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and 85% strains showed a strong biofilm-forming ability. The qualitative identification of genes taking part in Quorum Sensing system demonstrated that over 89% of strains contained lasR and rhlI genes. An antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed nine strains resistant to at least one antibiotic, and two isolates were the metallo-β-lactamase producers. Moreover, the majority of P. aeruginosa strains contained genes encoding various virulence factors. Presence of even low level of pathogenic microorganisms or higher level of opportunistic pathogens and their toxic metabolites might result in the production inefficiency. Therefore, the prevention of microbial contamination, effectiveness of sanitary and hygienic applied protocols, and constant microbiological monitoring of the environment are of great importance.


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