Fluoroquinolone efflux pump of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

A total of thirty six (36) Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from clinical specimens (ear swab, urine, wound swab, sputum and semen) in Benin City. Fourteen (14) shows resistance to Ciprofloxacin, seventeen (17) to Ofloxacin, sixteen (16) to Perfloxacin and twenty (20) to Sparfloxacin after the first susceptibility was performed. The post curing antibiogram of the multidrug resistant clinical isolates were retested against the FQs. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed 64% resistance to Ciprofloxacin, 88% to Ofloxacin, 87.5% to Perfloxacin and 85% to Sparfloxacin. Hence FQs resistance to this organism is more likely due to mutation of the target site or altered DNA gyrase and efflux pump. Also, plasmid analysis was carried out on clinical isolate that shows significant plasmid DNA mediation with uniform size indicating that such plasmid mediation have a similar origin and organisms are closely related. Base on this study, resistance rate were low with ciprofloxacin, thus this drug remain the rational choice for empirical treatment of serious infection as mutation, efflux pump and other factors should be taken into consideration when manufacturing newer Fluoroquinolones antimicrobial regimen for the treatment of Pseudomonas.