Lack of Association Between and Gene Variants and Sodium Hypochlorite Resistance in Clinical Isolates of ESBL- and Carbapenemase-Producing spp. and spp., from Gaborone, Botswana.

: The gene and its variant, , have been associated with resistance to antimicrobials and biocides. This poses a threat to infection prevention, control and treatment. Several studies investigated this relationship with conflicting results. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of and in clinical extended spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing spp. and spp. and elucidate the association of these genes with resistance to sodium hypochlorite. : This study included 216 isolates of ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) spp. and spp. These isolates were identified by VITEK-2 analyser. The MIC and MBC of sodium hypochlorite were determined using the microbroth serial-dilution method. PCR was used to detect gene variants. A regression analysis investigated any association between genotypes, MIC and MBC, as well as antimicrobial drug resistance profiles. : Overall, there was a high prevalence of and variants (84.7%; 95% CI, 79.2-89.2). There was a high prevalence of (80.6%; 95% CI, 74.6-85.6) as compared to (15.3%, 95% CI, 10.8-20.8). The MIC and MIC of the isolates ranged between 7031 mg/L and 9375 mg/L and 14,060 mg/L and 18,750 mg/L, respectively, while the MBC ranged from 48,750 mg/L to 18,750 mg/L. There was no association between genotypes and high MIC and MBC as well as antimicrobial drug resistance. : The MIC and MBC of sodium hypochlorite are higher than what is currently used for disinfection in Botswana. There is a high prevalence of and ; however, these genes do not seem to be associated with resistance to sodium hypochlorite.