Case report

Imported PER-1 producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PER-1 producing Acinetobacter baumanii and VIM-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in Hungary

Dora Szabó^{* 1,2} , Julia Szentandrássy^{* 2} , Zsuzsa Juhász³ , Katalin Katona² , Károly Nagy¹ and László Rókusz⁴

¹Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1089, Nagyvárad tér 4., Hungary

²Department of Microbiology, State Health Center, Budapest, H-1134 Róbert Károly krt. 44., Hungary

³Burn Unit, State Health Center, Budapest, H-1134 Róbert Károly krt. 44., Hungary

⁴First Department of Medicine, State Health Center, Budapest, H-1134 Róbert Károly krt. 44., Hungary

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials 2008, 7:12doi:10.1186/1476-0711-7-12

Published:	30 May 2008

Abstract

Introduction

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii are important nosocomial pathogens with wide intrinsic resistance. However, due to the dissemination of the acquired resistance mechanisms, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and metallo beta-lactamase (MBL) production, multidrug resistant strains have been isolated more often.

Case presentation

We report a case of a Hungarian tourist, who was initially hospitalized in Egypt and later transferred to Hungary. On the day of admission PER-1-producing P. aeruginosa, PER-1 producing A. baumannii, SHV-5-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and VIM-2-producing P. aeruginosa isolates were subcultured from the patient's samples in Hungary. Comparing the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of the P. aeruginosa strains from the patient to the P. aeruginosa strains occurring in this hospital, we can state that the PER-1-producing P. aeruginosa and VIM-2-producing P. aeruginosa had external origin.

Conclusion

This is the first report of PER-1-producing P. aeruginosa,and PER-1-producing A. baumanii strains in Hungary. This case highlights the importance of spreading of the beta-lactamase-mediated resistance mechanisms between countries and continents, showing the importance of careful screening and the isolation of patients arriving from a different country.