Biofilm Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Sabina Chhunju¹, Tulsi Nayaju1,
Kabita Bhandari1, Khadga Bikram Angbuhang1, Binod Lekhak3,
Krishna Govinda Prajapati², Upendra Thapa Shrestha3*, Milan Kumar Upreti1
¹GoldenGate International College,
Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
²B&B Hospital. Gwarko, Lalitpur, Nepal
3Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu,
Nepal
*Corresponding author: Upendra
Thaha Shrestha, Central Department
of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal; Email:
upendrats@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To
determine the prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria in lower respiratory tract
infections and study the biofilm producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Methods: This study was
conducted at B & B Hospital Pvt. Ltd., Lalitpur, Nepal from February to
September 2018. The samples were collected from the patients (n=420) with signs
and symptoms suggestive of LRTIs. The isolated organisms were identified and
antimicrobial sensitivity was performed. Among all the isolates, P.
aeruginosa isolates were
subjected for biofilm detection by microtiter plate method.
Results: Out
of 420 specimens, 90 (21.6%) were culture positive. Klebsiella pneumoniae (42.9%)
was found to be the predominant organism with higher rate of resistance to
antibiotics. A total of 25 isolates of P. aeruginosa were isolated among
which 15 (60%) were biofilm producers. Biofilm-producing isolates of P.
aeruginosa were found more resistant to the tested antibiotics.
Conclusion:
Gram-negative bacteria were found to be the predominant etiological agents in
causing the LRTIs; K. pneumoniae, being
the most commonly isolated bacteria. Most P.
aeruginosa were capable of producing the biofilm. The biofilm producers
were more resistant to the antibiotics. The biofilm may help increase the
resistivity nature of the bacteria.
Keywords: LRTI, Gram-negative bacteria, Biofilm, Antibiotic resistance, MDR
