Manuscript Info: International Journal of Advanced Research
Manuscript Info: International Journal of Advanced Research
Manuscript Info: International Journal of Advanced Research
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Aamal Ghazi Mahdi Al-Saadi , Alaa Fahim Abbas , Tha’ir Abid D’asheesh.
College of science, Al-Qadisiyah University, Iraq.
Manuscript History: Non fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) have emerged as multidrug
resistant pathogens associated with life threating nosocomial infections. To
Received: 14 January 2016
Final Accepted: 26 February 2016 assess the frequency of these pathogens, (873) different clinical specimens
Published Online: March 2016 were collected from patients admitted to Al- Diwaniya teaching hospital
during a period extended from January to December 2015. Bacterial isolates
Key words: recovered from the collected sampled have identified based on biochemical
NFGNB, prevalence, virulence tests and confirmed using Vitek2 Compact system. The predominant isolate
factors, antibiotic resistance. was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60%) followed by Burkholdaria cepacia
(26%), Acintobacter spp.(6%). Pseudomonas putida , Pseudomonas leutella,
Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Achromobacter spp. (2%). The highest
*Corresponding Author number of the NFGNB was obtained from ear swabs (36%) followed by
sputum (24%), vaginal swabs and urine (12%), throat swabs (10%), and
Aamal Ghazi Mahdi Al- blood (6%). The NFGNB were isolated from both males and females and
Saadi. most of them detected in the age group 15-30 years followed by the age
group 47-62 year then 31-46 year. Virulence factors, including colonization
factors antigens I and III, proteases, siderophores, and capsule have
identified in the isolated NFGNB. Results also showed that isolates of the
predominant species, P. aeruginosa, were resistant to multiple antibiotics
including, Ampicillin (93.98%), Ceftriaxone (82.13%), Chloramphenicol
(72.09%), Piperacillin (64.31%), Ciprofloxacin (46.97%), Gentamycin
(32.4%), Tetracycline (30.75%), Levofloxacin (15.17%), Amikacin
(12.12%), Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole (10.67%). P. aeruginosa isolates
showed low resistance to Colistin (2.34%) and Imipenem (6.89%). The
outcome of this study may be helpful to understand the epidemiology of
these organisms, which is crucial for appropriate management of infections
caused by NFGNB.
Introduction:-
Non fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) is a diverse group of aerobic, non spore forming, gram negative
bacteria that either do not use carbohydrates as energy source or utilize them by means of metabolic pathways other
than fermentation (Vijaya, Bavani et al. 2000, Benachinmardi, Padmavathy et al. 2014). This group comprises of
organisms from various genera such as Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Burkholderia cepacia,
Sphingobacterium, Agrobacter, and Weeksiella. These organisms exist commonly in soil and water, and they are
also present as harmless parasites on the mucus membranes of humans and animals (Baron, Peterson et al. 1994).
Although the members of NFGNB are normally considered to be commensals or contaminants, the pathogenic
potential of this group has been established undeniably because of their regular isolation from clinical specimens
and their involvement with many diseases(Sujatha Karjigi 2013). Recent studies revealed that these organisms are
now associated with serious infections, such as meningitis, ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), surgical site
infection, osteomyelitis, and wound infections (Juyal, Prakash et al. 2013). The NFGNB reported to form about
(15%) of all bacterial isolates from clinical samples(Gokale and Metgud 2012). Infections caused by these
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organisms are endogenous or exogenous origin, depending on numerous factors like abusive use of wide spectrum
antimicrobial agents, the use of immunosuppressant substance, prolong surgical procedure, and inadequate
instrumentation (Frota and Moreira 1998, Kaur, Gupte et al. 2015). Most of the NFGNB are resistant to many
antibiotics because of the extensive use of the antimicrobial agents used to treat infections caused by these
organisms, making them important health care associate pathogens (Gokale and Metgud 2012). They have diverse
mechanisms for resistance, including: enzymes production, enzymatic deactivation of antibiotics, precise targeted
enzyme which is inhibited by antimicrobial agents, modification in target locations, creation of efflux pumps, defeat
of outer membrane proteins or porins, and decrease of the antimicrobial agent uptake; therefore , the therapeutic
choices are strictly restricted to treat the NFGNB infections (Zahid, Akbar et al. 2014). This is the first study to
investigate the clinical significance of NFGNB in Iraq. The objectives of this study are to: (1) Isolate and
identificate NFGNB from different clinical specimens, including sputum, throat swabs, ear swabs, urine, blood, and
vaginal swabs (2) Investigate the prevalence of NFGNB in Iraq, particularly in Al-Diwaniyah city (3) Identificate
the various virulence factors related to infections caused by NFGNB, and (4) Test the susceptibility of the isolated
and identified predominant species, P. aeruginosa, to the commonly used antimicrobial agents.
Results:-
Out of 873 different clinical specimens collected during the study period, the NFGNB were isolated from 50
samples (5.72%), while other bacterial species were isolated from 563 samples to form (64.49%) of the total
specimens number. No growth was detected in 260 samples with a percentage of (29.78%).Table (1).
Table(2) shows the specimens profile and frequency of NFGN bacilli isolated from sputum, throat swabs, ear swabs,
urine, blood, vaginal swabs, stool, and wounds. The NFGNB were predominant in ear swabs (36%) followed by
sputum (24%), vaginal swabs and urine (12%). The NFGNB were also isolated from throat swabs (10%) and blood
(6%).Table (3) illustrates the specimens profile and distribution of NFGN bacilli isolates. The most common
NFGNB isolated during the current study was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60%) followed by Burkholdaria cepacia
(26%), Acintobacter spp.(6%). Pseudomonas putida , Pseudomonas leutella, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and
Achromobacter spp.were also isolated with a percentage of (2%). Most of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16 isolates)
were recovered from ear swabs followed by urine (6 isolates), vaginal swabs (5 isolates), sputum (2 isolates), and
throat swab (1 isolate). Burkholdaria cepacia was predominant in sputum samples (7 isolates) followed by throat
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swabs (4 isolates) and blood (2 isolates). Two Acintobacter spp. isolates were recovered from sputum and one
isolate from ear swab. Pseudomonas putida was isolated only from one blood sample, while Pseudomonas leutella
was obtained only from a vaginal swab. A single isolate of Sphingomonas paucimobilis was recovered from an ear
swab, and one isolate of Achromobacter spp. was isolated from a sputum sample.
The distribution of NFGN bacilli in relation to age and sex is demonstrated in table (4). The age range in our study
was 15-63 years. The NFGNB were isolated from 26 (52%) male and 24 (48 %) female. The highest number of
isolates (22 isolate) (44%) was detected in the age group 15-30 years followed by the age group 47-62 year(17
isolates)(34%) then 31-46 year (9 isolates)(18%).
Table (5) summarizes the type and percentages of virulence factors identified in the present study. Colonization
factors antigenI were detectable in (50%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, (33.3%) of Acintobacter spp., and
(15.4%) of Burkholdaria cepacia isolates. Colonization factors antigen III were detected in (100%) of Pseudomonas
putida , Pseudomonas leutella, and Acintobacter spp. isolates, (86.7%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and
(76.9%) of Burkholdaria cepacia isolates. Sidrophores were identified in (83.3%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
isolates and (84.6%) of Burkholdaria cepacia isolates. Extracellular proteases were detected in (100%) of
Pseudomonas leutella and Sphingomonas paucimobilis isolates, (36.7%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and
(23%) of Burkholdaria cepacia. Moreover, capsule was found in (100%) of Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas
leutella, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Achromobacter spp. isolates, (84.6%%) of Burkholdaria cepacia isolates,
(73.3%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates, and (66.6%) of Acintobacter spp .isolates. Our results showed that P.
aeruginosa isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics including, Ampicillin (93.98%), Ceftriaxone (82.13%),
Chloramphenicol (72.09%), Piperacillin (64.31%), Ciprofloxacin (46.97%), Gentamycin (32.4%), Tetracycline
(30.75%), Levofloxacin (15.17%), Amikacin (12.12%), Trimethoprim–Sulfamethoxazole (10.67%). The most
effective antibiotics are Colistin(2.34%) and Imipenem (6.89%) (Figure1).
Table 1: Numbers and percentages of NFGN bacilli and other bacteria isolated during the current study.
Cultural result specimens Number of specimens %
NFGN bacilli isolates 50 5.72
Other bacteria 563 64.49
No growth 260 29.78
Total 873 100
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15-30 10 20 12 24 22 44
31-46 7 14 2 4 9 18
47-62 8 16 9 18 17 34
≥63 1 2 1 2 2 4
total 26 52 24 48 50 100
Discussion:-
Non-Fermenting Gram negative bacilli have emerged as significant opportunistic pathogens that are responsible to
cause many infections especially in the growing inhabitants of patients who are immunocompromised by their
disease or medical treatment(Baron 1994, Enoch, Birkett et al. 2007). The NFGNB epidemiological complexity,
tendency to cause outbreaks of infection, and antimicrobial resistance make these organisms worth mentioning and
investigating (Rahbar and Hajia 2006, Taherikalani, Etemadi et al. 2008). Studies performed by different researchers
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have illustrated that the range of isolation rate of NFGNBs vary from (9.32%) to (45.9%) (Sidhu, Arora et al. 2010,
Juyal, Prakash et al. 2013). The most common non fermenting pathogens for humans are Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Acinetobacterbaum-aniiare, and infections by other bacterial species are quite uncommon (Taneja, Maharwal et
al. 2003, Thipperudraswamy, Nadigar et al. 2014). In the present study, the predominant bacteria was Pseudomonas
aeruginosa (60%) followed by Burkholdaria cepacia (26%). In other studies, the most frequent NFGNB isolated
were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (70.43%) (50.24%) then Acinetobacter calcoaciticus-baumaniicomplex (25.44%)
( 24.78%) respectively (Thipperudraswamy, Nadigar et al. 2014, Bhargava, Kar et al. 2015). Among the diverse
clinical specimens that we collected and processed for the isolation of pathogens capable of causing diseases, the
NFGNB were predominant in ear swabs (36%) followed by sputum (24%) in comparison to other studies where the
highest numbers of NFGNB were isolated from the pus exudates and body fluid samples (Bhargava, Kar et al.
2015) (Malini, Deepa et al. 2009).
Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were recovered from ear swabs, urine , and vaginal swabs where they can
colonize and cause chronic otitis (Rowlands, Devalia et al. 2001) and urinary tract infection(Ferroni, Nguyen et al.
1998) respectively. It was also isolated from sputum and a throat swab where consider the most significant cause of
morbidity and mortality of chronic airway infections, such as cystic fibrosis (Moffett 2010). We have identified two
colonization factors antigens I and III, proteases, siderophores, and capsule in our P. aeruginosa isolates. To
establish an infection, a bacterium must adhere to the epithelium and multiply; to accomplish this, P. aeruginosa
have evolved colonization factors, such as pili or fimbria that recognize and attach the bacteria to host cells.
P. aeruginosa produces several surface-associated adherence factors which promote attachment and contribute to
the virulence of this pathogen(Hahn 1997). Proteases can cause bleeding and tissue necrosis. Siderophores are
implicated in the chronic infection caused by P. aeruginosa by allowing the bacteria to multiply even if there is
ferrous ions deficiency (Ben Haj Khalifa, Moissenet et al. 2011). Mucoid exopolysaccharide capsule can protect
P. aeruginosa from host phagocytic activity and from antibiotics (Vasil 1986). P. aeruginosa in the present study
showed high sensitivity to Colistin and Imipenem, and the results are similar to (Meghna, Bhat et al. 2014,
Bhargava, Kar et al. 2015) and different from (Taneja, Maharwal et al. 2003) when they found high resistance to
Imipenem by P. aeruginosa. This difference is likely because of the diversity in antibiotic susceptibility in different
environmental conditions and regions. On the other hand, P. aeruginosa isolates were highly resistant to multiple
antibiotics including, Ampicillin, Ceftriaxone, Chloramphenicol, Piperacillin; the results are consistent with(Kalidas
Rit 2013).
Burkholdaria cepacia isolates were recovered from sputum, throat swabs, and blood. This bacterium has emerged as
an opportunistic pathogen of pulmonary infections in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis and
immunocompromised patients without cystic fibrosis (Govan, Hughes et al. 1996), and it is progressively more
reported as a cause of healthcare associated infections, including bloodstream infections (De Smet, Veng et al.
2013). We also identified colonization factors antigens I and III, proteases, siderophores, and capsule in our B.
cepacia isolates. Acintobacter spp. isolates were isolated from sputum and ear swab. Acinetobacter has appeared as
a significant nosocomial bacterium causing infectious outbreaks in patients leading to high mortality and morbidity.
It is associated with blood stream infections (Kaur, Gupte et al. 2015), acute or chronic otitis media, and otitis
externa (Dadswell 1976).
Pseudomonas putida was isolated only from one blood sample, and it is reported to cause lethal case of bacteremia
because of skin and soft tissue infections (Thomas, Okamoto et al. 2013). Pseudomonas leutella was obtained only
from a vaginal swab; it is an uncommon opportunistic pathogen that documented as an unusual cause of infections
in underlying medical disorders (Yousefi, Shoja et al. 2014). A single isolate of Sphingomonas paucimobilis was
recovered from an ear swab; it is infrequently isolated from clinical specimens and it is related to a vast variety of
infections. The majority S. paucimobilis infections reported in either hospital acquired or associated to nosocomial
outbreaks (Toh, Tay et al. 2011). One isolate of Achromobacter spp. was isolated from a sputum sample. This
bacterium is increasingly found in sputum of cystic fibrosis people (De Baets, Schelstraete et al. 2007)
Our study also revealed that the NFGNB were isolated from both males and females, and the highest number of
NFGNB isolates was detected in the age group 15-30 years followed by the age group 47-62 year then 31-46 year.
People at the age of 15 - 30 years are more energetic, have more public contacts, more movement from one place to
another so the chances of getting infection at this age is high. The possibility of getting infections depends on
number of experiences to the injurious bacteria, viruses and toxins. In contrast, at older ages, the people are limited
from social contact, so the chances of developing infections is less(Akbar, Zahid et al. 2014).
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Accurate identification and revealing of antibiotic sensitivity profile is vital for a proper management of infections
caused by NFGNB (Benachinmardi, Padmavathy et al. 2014). It is also important to start the clinical relevance of
the NFGNB members before considering as pathogens to keep people away from unnecessary use and appearance of
drug resistance strains(Kalidas Rit 2013).
Conclusion:-
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to explore the prevalence of NFGNB in Iraq, particularly in Al-
Diwaniya city. Results of this study may be useful to understand the epidemiology and the pathogenic functions of
these organisms, and they are also vital for appropriate management of infections caused by NFGNB.
Acknowledgement:-
Thanks for Al-Diwaniya teaching hospital to provide us with samples for our study.
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