Molecular characterization of Enterobacteriaceae resistant to carbapenem antimicrobials Caracterização molecular de enterobactérias resistentes aos carbapenêmicos

Abstract

The present study aimed to genotypically and phenotypically characterize clinical isolates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae collected from inpatients at the University Hospital of Santa Maria, during seven months. Among the clinical isolates subjected to the modified Hodge test (MHT), 62.5% were positive, indicating possible production of carbapenemase. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that bla KPC was the most frequently found gene (31%), followed by bla IMP (12.5%). Combined use of the methods is needed to identify carbapenem resistance in enterobacteria to prevent their spread and control the infections caused by these organisms