Molecular characterization of carbapenemases production among environmental Gram-negative isolates at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: first detection of NDM Producers in hospital environments
Introduction: The Gram-Negative bacteria, particularly carbapenem-resistant strains (CR-GNB), pose a global health threat due to high morbidity and mortality. Detecting carbapenemase-encoding genes is essential for understanding their spread in hospital environments. This study investigated environ...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20561 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: The Gram-Negative bacteria, particularly carbapenem-resistant strains (CR-GNB), pose a global health threat due to high morbidity and mortality. Detecting carbapenemase-encoding genes is essential for understanding their spread in hospital environments. This study investigated environmental colonization by CR-GNB in Ethiopian hospitals, including genetic characterization of resistance genes.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study analyzed 103 environmental GNB isolates collected from inanimate surfaces at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) and ALERT Hospital (June–September 2021). Conventional microbiological methods identified the isolates, and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Carbapenemase production was screened using the Modified Hodge test (MHT) and combined disk test (CDT). Resistance genes (blaKPC, blaNDM, blaOXA-48) were detected via PCR in isolates with reduced meropenem susceptibility.
Results: The predominant GNB were Acinetobacter baumannii (47%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (33%), and E. coli (12%). Among 103 isolates, 62% showed reduced meropenem susceptibility. The most common CR-GNB was Acinetobacter baumannii (37.5%), followed by E. coli (18.8%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.5%). Carbapenemase production was detected in 41.7% of isolates via PCR, with blaNDM being the most common (43 isolates). Linens (26.4%) and beds (21.4%) had the highest contamination rates. Most carbapenemase-producing isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR).
Conclusions: The presence of blaNDM and blaKPC genes highlights hospital surfaces as reservoirs for resistance genes, contributing to healthcare-associated infections. Routine surveillance and early detection of carbapenemase producers are crucial for infection control and antimicrobial resistance management.
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| ISSN: | 1972-2680 |