Detecção do gene blaKPC em Pseudomonas aeruginosa em isolados clínicos provenientes de hospitais em Campo Grande - MS

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa constitutes a major public health problem due to its high resistance levels. The dissemination of carbapenemases, such as the KPC enzyme, has contributed to this resistance. This study aimed to investigate the presence of the blaKPC gene in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from two hospitals in Campo Grande, MS. Twenty samples, previously identified and classified as carbapenem-resistant by phenotypic methods, were analyzed. Gene detection was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by the visualization of amplified products on agarose gel. Among the evaluated isolates, 11 (55%) tested positive for blaKPC, equally distributed between the participating hospitals. The observed frequency demonstrates a relevant circulation of KPC-producing strains in the studied region, serving as an alert for local healthcare services. These findings reinforce the need for continuous microbiological surveillance, the rational use of antimicrobials, and the implementation of effective infection prevention and control measures. Furthermore, the absence of blaKPC in a portion of the samples suggests the possible involvement of other resistance mechanisms, highlighting the importance of further studies investigating different carbapenemases and the regional epidemiology of P. aeruginosa.