ABSTRACT
P. aeruginosa accounts for a significant proportion of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, levels of antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas from various clinical samples. P. aeruginosa accounts for a significant proportion of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, levels of antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas from various clinical samples. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, over a period of 1 year. After identification of genus Pseudomonas, the speciation was done by biochemical tests and by VITEK 2. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) production were detected by the combined disc diffusion test. Results: They were predominantly isolated from pus (44.3%), followed by blood (24.05%), body fluids (13.92%) and sputum (12.03%). The highest number of isolates were pseudomonas aeruginosa (64.56%) followed by p. fluroscence 19.62%, p. putida 7.6%, p. stutzeri 1.9%, p. alcaligens 1.9%, burkhelderia cepacia complex (BCC) (previous designation: pseudomonas cepacia) 1.9% and 2.53% isolate of burkhelderia pseudomallei (previous designation: pseudomona spseudomallei). Conclusion: This study examined the prevalence of pseudomonl infections, and its susceptibility patterns to different antibiotics. The presence of antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates could be attributed to β-lactamase production and the use of multiple drug resistance efflux pump. It therefore calls for a very judicious, rational treatment regimens prescription by the physicians to limit the further spread of antimicrobial resistance among the P. aeruginosa strains.