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When the resistance gets clingy: Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring metallo-β-lactamase gene shows high ability to produce biofilm

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Abstract

The ability to produce biofilm and the presence of metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were evaluated. A total of 91 isolates were recovered from sputa of patients with (CF, n = 44) and without (non-CF, n = 47) cystic fibrosis diagnosis. Seventy-nine (86.8%; 95% CI 78.3–92.3%) were biofilm producers. Interestingly, all isolates harboring MBL showed ability (most strong or moderate) to produce biofilm in vitro. We alert to an “overlapping of mechanisms” that together represent an even greater challenge for the treatment of pulmonary infections by P. aeruginosa.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the staff of molecular biology at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) for technical support with the PCR procedures. The authors also acknowledge the financial support from CNPq (“Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico”) and CAPES (“Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior”), Brazil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Sciences Postgraduate Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    L. R. R. Perez, A. L. S. Antunes & A. L. Barth

  2. Pharmacy Faculty, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    L. R. R. Perez, A. L. S. Antunes & A. L. P. Freitas

  3. Microbiology Unit, Clinical Pathology Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    A. L. Barth

  4. Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, 2752 Ipiranga Avenue, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    L. R. R. Perez

Authors
  1. L. R. R. Perez
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  2. A. L. S. Antunes
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  3. A. L. P. Freitas
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  4. A. L. Barth
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Correspondence to L. R. R. Perez.

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Perez, L.R.R., Antunes, A.L.S., Freitas, A.L.P. et al. When the resistance gets clingy: Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring metallo-β-lactamase gene shows high ability to produce biofilm. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 31, 711–714 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1363-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1363-2

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