Enterobacter Cloacae: The association of antibiotic resistance, integron class I and carbapenemase genes

The opportunistic pathogen, E. Cloacae has been reported to carry carbapenemas genes worldwide. Our objective was assessing the association of antibiotic resistance, integron class I and carbapenemase genes among E. Cloacae. Herein, 200 E. Cloacae were collected and identified. The antibiotic resistance of them was evaluated using Kirby Bauer method. The existence of class I integron, carbapenemase genes was investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 200 E. Cloacae isolates collected, 120 isolates (60%) were from male and 80 isolates (40%) were from females. Of them, 110 isolates (55%) showed a pattern of MDR phenotype. Of these, 18 isolates (9%) showed resistance to imipenem. Based on PCR test, 134 isolates (67%) had class I integrons. Also, out of 110 MDR isolates, 52 isolates (72%) were positive in terms of the presence of class I integrons. Isolates with integrons were mostly from urinary (61%) and blood (44%) and from ICU settings (46%) and inpatients (38%). A significant relationship was observed between the presence of integron and resistance to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem, and norfloxacin antibiotics. The prevalence of blaIMP, blaOXA-48 were 18% and 4%, respectively, but none of other carbapenemase genes were detected. The existence of class I integron was high among E. Cloacae from Baghdad city. The carriage of genes resistance to carbapenems were significantly associated to the class I integrin.