Correlation between the Antibiotic Resistance Genes and Susceptibility to Antibiotics among the Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens.

In this study, the correlation between the antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic susceptibility among the carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens (CRGNPs) recovered from patients diagnosed with acute pneumonia in Egypt was found. A total of 194 isolates including (89; 46%), (47; 24%) and (58; 30%) were recovered. Of these, 34 (18%) isolates were multiple drug resistant (MDR) and carbapenem resistant. For the MDR isolates (n = 22), (14; 64%) was the most prevalent carbapenemase, followed by (11; 50%) and (4; 18%). A significant association ( value < 0.05) was observed between the multidrug efflux pump (AcrA) and resistance to β-lactams and the aminoglycoside acetyl transferase gene () gene and resistance to ciprofloxacin, azithromycin and β-lactams (except for aztreonam). For , a significant association was noticed between the presence of the gene and the multidrug efflux pump (MexA) and resistance to fluoroquinolones, amikacin, tobramycin, co-trimoxazole and β-lactams and between the gene and resistance to aminoglycosides. All isolates (100%) harbored the MexAB-OprM multidrug efflux pump while 86% of the isolates harbored the AcrAB-TolC pump. Our results are of great medical importance for the guidance of healthcare practitioners for effective antibiotic prescription.