Tabari Biomedical Student Research Journal

en Antibiotic Resistance and Prevalence of blaOXA-48 and blaGES-2 Genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Burn Patients in Tabriz, Iran Biotechnology Research (Original) Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections in burn units, and its antibiotic resistance presents a significant therapeutic challenge. The emergence of carbapenemase genes, such as blaOXA-48 and blaGES-2, is of particular concern. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns and the prevalence of blaOXA-48 and blaGES-2 genes in P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients in Tabriz, Iran. Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 100 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa were collected from burn patients between June and January 2025. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to clinical and laboratory standards institute guidelines. Phenotypic detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) was conducted using the combined disk test. The presence of blaOXA-48 and blaGES-2 genes was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Results: The highest resistance rates were observed against ceftazidime and cefotaxime, each at 96%, followed by imipenem at 91% and meropenem at 90%. Phenotypically, 50% of the isolates were identified as ESBL producers. Genotypic analysis of ESBL-positive isolates revealed that 62% (31/50) carried the blaGES-2 gene, while 28% (14/50) harbored the blaOXA-48 gene. Concurrent presence of both genes was detected in 12% (6/50) of the ESBL-positive isolates. Conclusion: The results demonstrated a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance and a concerning presence of carbapenemase genes blaGES-2 and blaOXA-48 in P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients in Tabriz. This highlights the urgent need for continuous surveillance programs and enhanced infection control strategies in burn care centers.   Anti-Bacterial Agents, Beta-Lactamases, Burns, Drug Resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 25 32 http://tbsrj.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-3618-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Abolfazl Jafari-Sales a.jafari_1392@yahoo.com 100319475328460032005 100319475328460032005 No Department of Microbiology, Kaz.C., Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran. Aylin Golestani ayliin.golestanii@gmail.com 100319475328460032006 100319475328460032006 No Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. Zahra Ghahremani zghahremani1380@gmail.com 100319475328460032007 100319475328460032007 No Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. Mahsa Farzipour Farzipourmahsa@gmail.com 100319475328460032008 100319475328460032008 No Department of Biotechnology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Ayda Jalilpouri aydajalilpoori@gmail.com 100319475328460032009 100319475328460032009 No Department of Biotechnology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Shayan Pourmohebbi shayanpopi82@gmail.com 100319475328460032010 100319475328460032010 No Department of Biotechnology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Ghazal Kadkhodaei-Ilkhechi ghazal.Kadkhodaei.bio@gmail.com 100319475328460032011 100319475328460032011 No Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. Maryam Farahnaki-Sadabadi maryamfarahnaki.2004@gmail.com 100319475328460032012 100319475328460032012 No Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran. Mehrdad Pashazadeh Mehrdadpashazadeh85@gmail.com 100319475328460032013 100319475328460032013 Yes Department of Laboratory Sciences and Microbiology, TaMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran