A Descriptive Study of Biofilm Formation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Clinical Samples

Background:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a clinically troublesome pathogen that frequently causes opportunistic infections and nosocomial outbreaks. Infection caused by multidrug-resistant, biofilm-forming Pseudomonas is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for all P. aeruginosa isolates from clinical samples was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Congo red agar and the Christensen tube methods were used to test the biofilm production. Results: This study included 260 isolates of P. aeruginosa from clinical samples; the majority of the isolates were from pus (58%), followed by urine (17%). It was shown that 66% of isolates produced biofilms. P. aeruginosa had the highest percentage of ceftazidime resistance (83%), followed by cefepime resistance (71%). When biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance were correlated among P. aeruginosa isolates, the percentage of biofilm-forming P. aeruginosa that were multidrug-resistant (83.9%) was considerably (p <0.001) higher than that of non-biofilm producers. Conclusion: This study indicates a strong association between the development of biofilms and resistance to various antibiotics. Misuse of antibiotics increases expenses for treatment, morbidity, and mortality. It is essential to enforce strict guidelines on antibiotic use, adopt measures to control infections, and establish programs to monitor organisms resistant to multiple drugs.