RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Genetic determinants are known to promote antibiotic resistance through horizontal gene transfer. METHODS: We molecularly characterized integrons, plasmid replicon types and metallo-ß-lactamase-encoding genes of 38 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical samples. RESULTS: The P. aeruginosa isolates displayed high resistance (97.4%) to ß-lactams. Seventeen (44.74%) of them possessed plasmids. Of the 17 isolates that possessed plasmids, 11 (64.7%) of them harboured IncFIA plasmid replicon type, while 6 (35.3%), 5 (29.4%) and 5 (29.4%) were of the IncFIB, IncF and IncW types, respectively. The intI1 gene was detected in 19 (50%) of the isolates. The blaNDM-A, blaNDM-B and blaVIM genes were detected in 14 (35.9%), 4 (10.3%) and 5 (12.8%) of the isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High resistance to ß-lactams was observed among P. aeruginosa strains of clinical origin in this study. They possessed transmissible genetic elements indicating the potential for continuous dissemination, thus continuous surveillance is advocated.