Prevalence of Carbapenemase Genes bla_OXA-48, bla_NDM, and bla_IMP in Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from University Hospital Sharjah, UAE

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae are globally recognized as priority pathogens due to their association with multidrug resistance and limited therapeutic options. Carbapenemase genes, such as bla_OXA-48, bla_NDM, and bla_IMP, play a central role in the dissemination of resistance. Methods and Results: This study investigated the prevalence and co-occurrence of these pathogens in 100 multidrug-resistant isolates collected from University Hospital Sharjah, between November 2024 and June 2025. PCR detection revealed bla_OXA-48 as the most prevalent gene (66.7% in P. aeruginosa and 65.5% in K. pneumoniae), followed by bla_IMP (44.4% and 38.2%), and bla_NDM (15.6% and 23.6%). Co-occurrence of two or more genes was observed in over 30% of isolates, and a small proportion carried all three. Approximately one-quarter of isolates tested negative for these targets, indicating alternative mechanisms of carbapenem resistance. Conclusion: Our findings provide hospital-level molecular data from Sharjah that align with broader trends in the UAE, while highlighting the complexity of resistance-gene combinations. The results underscore the importance of ongoing molecular surveillance, monitoring of gene co-occurrence, and enhanced antimicrobial stewardship to mitigate the effects of multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative infections.