Frequency of Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Genes among Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Kerman, Iran

Background and Aims: plasmid genes are responsible for resistance to quinolones and fluoroquinolones, so the present study aims to identify the presence of qnr and aac genes in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: In ۲۰۱۶, ۶۰ strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from clinical specimens of patients in Kerman hospitals. Antibiotic resistance patterns were evaluated  using Kirby-Bauer and microdilution methodsagainst ۱۰ antibiotics according to CLSI criteria Specific primers and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect and amplify qnr and aac(۶)-Ib-cr genes. Results: Maximum antibiotic resistance was observed against cefexim (۸۰%) and calidixic acid (۷۵%) and minimum resistance against imipenem (۲۵%) and ciprofloxacin (۳۵%). The incidence rate of quinolone resistance genes were as follows: qnr A (۱۶.۶۶%), qnrB (۱۳.۳۳%), qnrS (۱۱/۶۶%) and aac(۶)-Ib-cr (۸/۳۳%). Conclusions: In the present study, qnrA gene had the highest incidence rates among the studied genes. Because of the importance of antibiotic resistance and the high prevalence of qnr genes found in this study , furthur studies need to be carried out on qnr resistance genes in the regional and national dimension.