Determining the class 1 integron in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from infections in burned patients at Shahid Motahari Hospital of Tehran, Iran.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterium in burned and immunocompromised patients causing nosocomial infections. Multiple drug resistance in the bacteria cannot occur only by mutation. Integrons' role in the transfer of multi-drug resistance gene has been approved. Due to the increasing drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, we decided to examine Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains causing infection in burned patients in terms of class 1 integron. Materials and Methods: In this study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were isolated from burned patients. A simple boiling method was used to extract DNA from bacteria. PCR reactions was used for the amplification of extracted DNA and PCR products were investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis using 1/5% in TBE buffer. Gels were colored with ethidium bromide, and PCR products were detected under UV light. Results: It was found that 19 strains (15/83 %) out of 120 samples were in class 1 integron. Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa which has a class 1 integron carries drug resistance genes such as MBL-producing genes that may cause cure-resistant infections in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]