Abstract
One hundred clinical isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosa were checked for their sensitivity towards silver nitrate. Majority of the isolates were resistant at 20 mg/L and the resistance decreased with increasing concentration of silver nitrate, only 5% of the organisms showed resistance above 70 mg/L. These silver-resistant isolates were further checked for their resistance towards mercury and cadmium at 20 mg/L of concentration and the level of resistance was found to be 33 and 40%, respectively. A correlation between silver ion resistance and concurrent mercury and cadmium ion resistance was observed, suggesting a possible linkage between resistance towards various metal ions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agrawal B.R., Yemul V.L., Khairatkar S.N.: 0.5 percent silver nitrate in treatment of burns.Ind. J. Med. Sci.35 (6), 125–130 (1970).
Annear D.I., Mee B.J., Barely M.: Instability and linkage of silver resistance, lactose fermentation and colony structure inEnterobacter cloacae from burn wounds.J. Clin. Path.29, 441–443 (1976).
Basil A., Pruitt J.R., Lindberg R.B.:Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in burn patients, inPseudomonas aeruginosa. Academic Press, New York 1979.
Bennett J.V.: Hospital acquired infections and the altered host, in nosocomial infections due toPseudomonas.J. Infect. Dis.130 (Suppl.), S4-S7 (1974).
Bridges K., Kidson A., Lowbury E.J.L., Wilkins M.D.: Gentamicin and silver resistantPseudomonas in burns unit.Brit. Med. J.1, 446–449 (1979).
Cason J.S., Jackson D.M.: Antiseptic and aseptic prophylaxis and burns.Brit. Med. J.2, 1288–1294 (1966).
Cervantes C.V., Chavez J., Cardona N.A., Mora P.C., Velasco A.: Resistance to metals byPseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates.Microbiol.48, 159–163 (1986).
Edwin A., Marino A.A.: Silver nylon, a new antimicrobial agent.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.23, 356–359 (1983).
Espersen F., Nielsen P.B., Lund K., Sylvest B., Jensen K.: Hospital acquired infection in a burns unit caused by an imported strain ofStaphylococcus aureus with unusual multiresistance.J. Hyg.88, 535–541 (1982).
Fox, C.L., Modak S.M.: Mechanism of silver sulfadiazine action on burn wound infections.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.2, 367–372 (1972).
Gerald P.B., Baliver R., Fainstein V., Jadeja J.: Infections caused byPseudomonas aeruginosa.Rev. Infect. Dis.5, 279–309 (1983).
Hendry A.T., Stewart I.O.: Silver resistantEnterobacteriaceae from hospital patients.Can. J. Microbiol.25, 915–921 (1979).
Kaur P., Vadehra D.V.: Mechanism of resistance to silver ions inKlebsiella pneumoniae.Antimicrob. Angents Chemother.29, 2–4 (1986).
Kaur P., Saxena M., Sareen M., Vadehra D.V.: Effect of silver ion resistance inStaphylococcus aureus on production of extracellular enzymes and toxins.Indian J. Med. Res.86, 716–721 (1987).
Krantz andCarr (1949): Cited by Lawrence L.A. and Block S.S. in Disinfection, sterilization and preservation (1968).
Lyon R.B., Skurray R.: Antimicrobial resistance ofStaphylococcus aureus: Genetic basis.Microbiol. Rev.51, 88–134 (1978).
Mc Hugh G.L., Mollering C.C., Hopkins C., Swartz M.N.:Salmonella typhimurium resistant to silver nitrate, chloramphenicol and ampicillin.Lancet (i)7901, 235–239 (1975).
Moyer L.A., Brentano L., Gravens D.L., Margraaf H.W.: Treatment of large human burns with 0.5 percent silver nitrate solution.Arch. Surg.90, 812–867 (1965).
Nakahara H., Ishikawa T., Serai Y.: Linkage of mercury, cadmium and arsenate and drug resistance in clinical isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosa.Appl. Env. Microbiol.33, 975–976 (1977).
Novick R.P., Roth C.: Plasmid mediated resistance to inorganic salts inStaphyloccus aureus.J. Bacteriol.95, 1335 (1968).
Ollstein R.N., Mc Donald C.: Topical and systematic antimicrobial agents in burns.Ann. Plast. Surg.5 386–392 (1980).
Palleroni N.J.: Pseudomonas, p.141 inBergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (N.R. Krieg, J.G. Hoft, Eds.) 1984.
Porter F.D., Silver S., Ong C., Nakahara H.: Selection for mercurial resistance in hospital setting.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.22, 825–858 (1982).
Price D.J.E., Sleigh J.B.: Control of infection due toKlebsiella aerogenes in a neurosurgical unit by withdrawal of all antibiotics.Lancet 1213–1215 (1970).
Price W.R., Wood M.: Treatment of infected burn with dilute silver nitrate solution.Am. J. Surg.114, 641–647 (1970).
Rosenkranz H.S., Carr H.S.: Silver sulfadiazine: Effect on the growth and metabolism of bacteria.Antimicrob. Agents Chemother.2, 367–372 (1972).
Saxena A., Trwari R., Tripathi K.K., Gupta K.G.: The effect of resistance to mercury on biological properties of and production of extracellular substances byStaphylococcus aureus.FEMS Microbiol. Lett.20, 67 (1984).
Stratron C.W., Tausk F.: Synergistic resistance mechanism inPseudomonas aeruginosa.J. Antimicrob. Chemother.19, 413 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vasishta, R., Chhibber, S. & Saxena, M. Heavy metal resistance in clinical isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosa . Folia Microbiol 34, 448–452 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02820752
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02820752