Genetic and phenotypic of sensitive to meropenem antibiotics after exposure to meropenem.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

, drug-resistant, causes health infections. Resistance to the preferred therapy meropenem is a serious threat. This study aimed to analyze changes in meropenem minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), changes in and gene expression, and the correlation between MIC and and gene expression after meropenem exposure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten isolates of rom the Clinical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia were used. After the bacteria were shown to be sensitive to meropenem phenotypically, intrinsic resistance genes were detected using PCR. After meropenem exposure on Days 5 and 12, sensitivity testing was carried out with the concentration gradient method and RNA was detected using real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS

All isolates that were phenotypically sensitive to meropenem had the and genes. An increase in MIC, an increase in and gene expression, and a decrease in gene expression were observed after meropenem exposure. There was a very strong and significant correlation (p ≤ 0.05) between MIC and gene expression after Day 12 of meropenem exposure.

CONCLUSION

Although there were no significant differences in MIC and and gene expression between Day 5 and Day 12, there was a very strong and significant correlation between MIC and gene expression on Day 12 (p ≤ 0.05). This indicates that decreasing gene expression has the potential to increase meropenem resistance in