ABSTRACT
Background and aim of work: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen infects immunocompromised hosts and characterized by its natural resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents, especially fluoroquinolones. The purpose of this study was the assessment of the fluoroquinolones resistance level among P. aeruginosa clinical isolates, furthermore to compare between the outer membrane protein profile of flouroquinolones susceptible and resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] technique
Methods: among one-hundred and fifty bacterial clinical isolates, sixty fives [43%] were identified as P. aeruginosa by conventional culture techniques. MIC of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and levofloxacin against pseudomonal isolates were determined by twofold agar dilution technique. Then the outer membrane protein fraction of both sensitive and resistant strains was isolated to be analyzed by SDS-PAGE technique
Results: only about 39%, 40% and 42% of these isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and norfloxacin, respectively. Profile of outer membrane protein fraction of the all isolates showed an additional band with an approximate molecular weight of 50-54 kDa; only in fluoroquinolones resistant strains
Conclusion: overproduction of outer membrane protein of approximate molecular weight 50-54 kDa in P. aeruginosa were associated with fluoroquinolones resistance