Simple multiplex PCR assays to detect common pathogens and associated genes encoding for acquired extended spectrum betalactamases (ESBL) or carbapenemases from surgical site specimens in Vietnam

Ngo Tat Trung, Tran Thi Thu Hien, Tran Thi Thanh Huyen, Dao Thanh Quyen, Mai Thanh Binh, Phan Quoc Hoan, Christian G Meyer, Thirumalaisamy P Velavan, Le Huu Song

Surgical site infection (SSI) is common in Vietnamese post-operative patients. It contributes to increased morbidity, mortality, hospitalization time and health care expenditure. Bacterial culture is considered the gold standard procedure to identify SSI pathogens and antibiotic resistant properties; however, it can detect microbes that can readily grow and is time-consuming. We propose optimized multiplex PCR assays to diagnose the most relevant microbes and associated genes encoding for acquired extended spectrum betalactamases (ESBL) or carbapenemases from Vietnamese patients with SSI in a hospital setting in Hanoi. Ninety-one patients (n = 91) were collected in order to identify microbial pathogens and associated genes encoding for acquired extended spectrum betalactamases (ESBL) or carbapenemases by both conventional bacterial culture and in-house multiplex PCR assays. The novel in-house multiplex PCR assays are comparable to the bacterial culture approach in screening for common pathogens causing SSI and for relevant genotypes conferring betalactam/carbapenem resistance for bacteria. This is the first report of Turkey-specific ESBL gene (PER-1) and two Oxacilinase families (Oxa23 and Oxa 58) in Vietnam.