Background and Aims: The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) strains has been recently reported worldwide. Therefore, accurate and rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing isolates is essential. So, this study aimed to detect bla_VIM and bla_IMP carbapenemase-producing strains using the modified Hodge test (MHT) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, P. aeruginosa  strains were collected from clinical samples (blood, urine, wound, and other liquids body) in Firoozgar and Shahid Motahari Hospitals in Tehran and Velayat Hospital in Rasht Province, from May to December 2018. After identifying the isolates using the standard microbial tests, carbapenemase-producing strains were isolated by the modified hodge test. After that, the detection of bla_VIM and bla_IMP genes was performed by RT-PCR technique.
Results: One hundred P. aeruginosa were isolated from different clinical samples. Among these, 74 (74%) isolates were considered as carbapenemase positive using MHT. The frequencies of bla_VIM and bla_IMP genes were obtained as 83% and 11%, respectively.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a high level of resistance to most of the antibiotics tested and a high prevalence of bla_VIM gene in P. aeruginosa strains.