Most multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from hospitals in eastern France belong to a few clonal types

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jul;49(7):2578-83. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00102-11. Epub 2011 May 18.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the genetic diversity of clinical multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing to analyze 187 strains isolated in different French hospitals. To illustrate the diversity of resistance mechanisms to antibiotics in a given clone, we identified β-lactamases with an extended spectrum by using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Typing results showed that the majority of our multidrug-resistant isolates belong to a few clonal types (ST235, ST111, and ST175) that are already spreading worldwide. These successful international clones sporadically produced extended-spectrum β-lactamase-encoding genes but mostly became extensively resistant to β-lactams after derepression of intrinsic resistance mechanisms (i.e., AmpC cephalosporinase). Our results indicate that cross-transmission plays a major role in the spread of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa in hospital settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cluster Analysis
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • France / epidemiology
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Molecular Typing*
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Pseudomonas Infections / epidemiology*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / classification*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification
  • beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics

Substances

  • beta-Lactamases