Molecular Detection of lasB Gene in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical Specimens

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Among its many virulence factors, the lasB gene, which encodes for elastase, plays a crucial role in tissue destruction, particularly in acute lung infections and burn wound infections. The study aimed to explore the prevalence of the lasB virulence gene in multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant P. aeruginosa. 300 clinical specimens were collected from various hospitals in Babylon City, Iraq. These isolates were obtained from different clinical sources. Specific and differential media cultured all of these specimens. Phenotypic and biochemical tests identified 46 isolates as P. aeruginosa, which was confirmed by the VITEK-2 system. A molecular diagnosis is recognized by the conventional PCR technique to detect the specified gene amplification products of the lasB gene for P. aeruginosa. The results showed that P. aeruginosa was most prevalent in burn and urine samples, with 46% and 24% rates, respectively. Lower rates were found in wound and sputum samples of 15% and 11%, while the lowest were in ear samples of 4%. Antibiotic resistance was high among the isolates, with 37% being multidrug-resistant (MDR) and 43% extensively drug-resistant (XDR). Only 20% of the isolates were sensitive to antibiotics. The lasB gene was predominantly found in drug-resistant strains, with 52% of XDR isolates, 29% of MDR isolates, and 19% of sensitive isolates carrying the gene. The study found a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates, with a significant proportion being multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant. The presence of the lasB gene in nearly half of the isolates a link between the virulence factor and increased resistance mechanisms.