Correlation of Biofilm Production in MBL-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, with high
morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. The production
of biofilms and the presence of metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) contribute significantly
to its antimicrobial resistance and persistence in clinical settings. MBL-producing P.
aeruginosa exhibits resistance to carbapenems, making infections difficult to treat.
This study explores the correlation between biofilm formation and MBL production
in clinical isolates from a tertiary care hospital.
Material and methods- The present study was conducted in the department of
Microbiology, GMC, Kota (Rajasthan), India. 225 non-duplicate isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa from various clinical samples such as pus, urine, sputum,
ET and body fluids were taken for the study.
All isolates were subjected to routine antibiotic susceptibility testing by Kirby Bauer
Disc Diffusion method. Metallo-β-Lactamases (MBLs) were phenotypically detected
by Modified Hodge test and Biofilm production by Microtiter plate method.
Result- Out of 225 sample, maximum number of isolates were obtained from sputum
68 (30%), followed by urine 59 (26%), pus 57 (25%), body fluids 26 (12%), and
endotracheal tube 15 (7%). Out of 62 Biofilm producers, 41 (66.1%) were MBL and
9(14%) were non-producers. Biofilm producing isolates showed more resistance as
compared to non-biofilm producers. The observed difference between biofilm
formation for multidrug resistance and susceptible isolates was found to be
statistically significant.
Conclusion: Regular surveillance of resistance patterns and biofilm-forming
capabilities of P. aeruginosa is crucial for guiding appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
This study provides critical insights into the epidemiology of MBL production and
biofilm formation in a tertiary care setting, underscoring the need for enhanced
diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.