Reduced susceptibility of Burkholderia pseudomallei following exposure to carbapenem

Reduced susceptibility in Burkholderia pseudomallei during carbapenem therapy may lead to treatment failure. We isolated a clinical strain that had developed reduced susceptibility to carbapenems while on treatment. After reviewing the patient's clinical notes, the initial isolate (BUPS01/14) was exposed to carbapenem in vitro to mimic the clinical scenario. The stability of susceptibility of the carbapenem-exposed strain (BUPS01/14R) was examined by serial subculture in antibiotic-free broth. Biochemical and morphological comparison was performed by the VITEK® system and electron microscopy. MICs increased 32-fold following carbapenem exposure and became stable in the antibiotic-free environment. On electron microscopic examination, the BUPS01/14R cells were smoother and less wrinkled compared to BUPS01/14 cells. This report highlights a potential anti-melioidosis treatment failure due to the emergence of resistance while on carbapenem monotherapy. Further study of this strain is necessary to understand the mechanism of resistance at a molecular level.