ABSTRACT
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important nosocomial pathogen, commonly causing infections in immunocompromised patients.This study devoted to investigate the clinical and molecular characteristics of metallo-beta-lactamase [MBL] positive P.aeruginosaisolates recovered from different hospitals belonging to Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.Antibiotic susceptibility testing and phenotypic screening MBLs were performed on 122 P.aeruginosa isolates collected in the period from January 2011 till March 2012.PCR was used to search for MBL genes in imipenem-non-susceptible isolates.The resistant rate to imipenem was 39.34% [n=48].The resistance rates for clinical P. aeruginosa isolates to cefuroxime, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, aztreonam and piperacillin/tazobactam were 87.7%, 80.3%, 60.6%, 45.1%, and 25.4% respectively.Out of 48 imipenem resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, 67.8% were found to produce MBL upon phenotypic screening for MBLs. VIM-2 was detected in 85% of MBL producingP. aeruginosa.IMP-1 was detected in only oneMBL producingP.aeruginosa