Abstract
Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains have been reported to be an important cause of nosocomial infections. There is not enough information from India regarding their prevalence in diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients. The present study was undertaken over a period of two year from December 2008 to March 2011 to study the incidence of MBL producing P. aeruginosa isolated from 162 DFU patients with various grades of ulcer (Texas classification). Forty isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained from patients. These isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing to anti-pseudomonal drugs as per Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, and were further screened for the production of MBL by disc potentiation testing using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)impregnated imipenem and meropenem discs. Of the 40 isolates of P. aeruginosa, 22 (55%) isolates were found resistant to carbapenems (imipenem) and 18 (81.1%) were found to be MBL producers using imipenem + (EDTA) and 15(68.1%) by meropenem + EDTA. This rapid dissemination of MBL producers is worrisome and necessitates the implementation of not just surveillance studies but also proper and judicious selection of antibiotics, especially carbapenems. (C) 2012 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.