SCREENING OF VIRULENCE FACTORS AMONG MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT ISOLATES OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA FROM BURN PATIENTS

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative micro-organism and one of the most isolated opportunistic nosocomial pathogens in burn patients. The rise of multi-drug resistant strains globally has significantly limited therapeutic options. This study explores some virulence factors of P. aeruginosa that are related to infection development in burn patients. A total of 63 swab samples were collected from burn patients who were admitted to Burns and Plastic Surgery Center Hayatabad, Peshawar through December 2023 to February 2024. Of these, 52 (82.5%) swab samples showed positive bacterial growth. Identification through morphological and biochemical tests were performed which showed that 15 isolates (28.8%) were colonized with P. aeruginosa. The result of antibiotic susceptibility testing through Kirby-Bauer agar disc diffusion method showed that high sensitivity was found for colistin (93.3%) and polymyxins-B (80%). Significant resistance rates included tazobactam (40%), salbactum (53.3%), aminoglycosides (53.3%), imipenem (40%), meropenem (46.7%), doripenem (66.7%), and ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin (46.7%). In addition, 46.67% isolates were found XDR and 26.67% were MDR isolates of P. aeruginosa. Virulence factors analysis showed that 12 isolates (80%) produced alkaline protease,9 isolates (60%) produced Lipase, and 13 isolates (86.67%) produced phospholipase. The substantial production of several phenotypic virulence factors underscores their critical role in infection spread, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance. Consequently, identifying anti-virulence agents for adjuvant therapy is vital in treating P. aeruginosa, particularly in multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This study emphasizes the need for continued research into alternative therapeutic strategies to reduce these challenging infections in burn patients.