Molecular Detection of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamases Among Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Patients Attending Two Selected Hospitals in Niger State, Nigeria.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa belongs to the ESKAPE group of superbugs and has been implicated in both healthcare-associated infections and as an opportunistic infection affecting patients with debilitating underlying conditions. The study aims to determine the prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)- producing P. aeruginosa, antibiogram and associated risk factors for acquisition of P. aeruginosa infection whilst using conventional PCR to detect the molecular presence of ESBL genes (particularly CTX- M, TEM and SHV) among isolates of P. aeruginosa from patients attending Federal Medical Centre, Bida and General Hospital, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. A total of 200 samples of wound swabs, pus, urine, ear and eye swabs were analyzed by standard bacteriological methods. Screening and confirmation of ESBL were done phenotypically by Kirby-Baur method of antibiotic susceptibility testing and Double Disk Synergy Testing (DDST), respectively. Molecular detection of ESBL genes: CTX-M, TEM and SHV was done using conventional PCR technique. Of a total of 200 samples collected, 27 (13.5%) were isolates of P. aeruginosa, 14 (51.9%) confirmed positive for ESBL using DDST and 12(44.4%) confirmed positive for the presence of one or more of the targeted ESBL gene using the conventional PCR technique. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (PPV) of DDST given as 58.3%, 53.3%, 50% and 61.5% respectively using the PCR technique as standard against DDST technique. Prevalence of CTX-M (499kbp), TEM (862kbp) and SHV (827kbp) genes were distributed as 9(40.9%), 8(36.4%) and 5(22.7%), respectively. Prevalence of ESBL producing P. aeruginosa is high thus endemic in this region. A high prevalence in occurrence of CTX-M reinstates the changing pattern of ESBL producing P. aeruginosa in this geographical region. Therefore, this calls for a public health concern and highlights the need to develop an active surveillance system to track the spread and activating a robust Infection prevention and control measure.