Characterization of blaNDM Gene in Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens

Antibiotics have been a cornerstone of treatment approaches as they protect against bacteria; however, they are often used without checks and balances. Over time, these antibiotics have become less effective due to bacterial resistance mechanisms. Through natural selection and random mutation, bacterial pathogens have developed resistance against several classes of antibiotics. One such resistance is beta-lactam resistance, caused by gene variants including the NDM gene. To date, comprehensive studies on this gene and its variants are limited in Pakistan. In our present study, multiple antibiotics were used to determine the susceptibility of bacterial samples, including Acinetobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. 82% of the samples were bla-NDM gene positive, as determined through molecular characterization using multiplex PCR. Further studies should be conducted on a larger sample scale to obtain more impactful results regarding antibiotic resistance in various bacteria.