The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics poses a significant public health problem globally, particularly in countries with limited resources [1]. The increased resistance is of particular concern in gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterobacteriaceae, the latter being the most found in humans [2] [3]. To treat infections caused by bacteria that show multiple resistances to antibiotics, Carbapenems are given as a last resort [4]. Their excellent anti-bacterial activity is mainly linked to the rapidity of their trans-membrane penetration through the external wall of gram-negative bacilli and their stability concerning most natural or acquired β-lactamases including cephalosporinases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases [5]. Unfortunately, bacteria have been able to adapt and have developed resistance mechanisms for these Carbapenems. This resistance is linked either to the association of the overexpression of extended-spectrum β-lactamases with the efflux pump and impermeability, or to the expression of β-lactamases hydrolyzing Carbapenems, known as Carbapenemases [6].

According to Ambler’s classification, Carbapenemases belong to three of the four classes of β-lactamases (A, B, C and D), the most frequent being of type Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC, class A), New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM, class B) and Oxacillinases of type OXA-48 (class D) [5] [7]. The other danger of carbapenemase-producing strains is that they are resistant to all the most effective antibiotics and being colonized by them is an independent risk factor for mortality [8]. The therapeutic limits resulting from the resistance of these microorganisms to Carbapenems and other antibiotics underline the importance of preventing, limiting and controlling their spread. The prerequisite for taking these measurements is their knowledge, then their detection using techniques that vary from the most expensive such as mass spectrometry and molecular biology to the more accessible such as rapid diagnostic tests [9]. This study aimed to investigate the production of Carbapenemases by Gram-negative bacilli isolated in the city of Douala using an accessible technique.

Multi-resistant strains were isolated in the five selected hospitals with a variable frequency due to the type of attendance and the level of activity of the health facility. As the Douala General Hospital and Laquintinie Hospital are referral hospitals, complex cases are transferred to them for better management. The multidrug-resistant strains came mostly from urine and pus samples, a result similar to those obtained in other national studies in 2018 [10]. The pathologies caused by bacteria resistant to Carbapenems are mostly urinary tract infections, as well as sepsis and soft tissue infections [11]. The prevalence of carbapenemase production was high in our study (16%) compared to the work of Betbeu et al. in Cameroon in 2015 (11%) and Yusuf et al. in Nigeria in 2011 (13.3%) on Klebsiella spp strains [12] [13]. This observed increase could be justified by the larger target population including Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli and also by the ever-increasing evolution of the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics over time [14]. The NDM-type carbapenemase of the Metallo-beta-lactamase group was the most common. The study of Vaux et al. in 2011 showed a higher frequency of the OXA-48 type followed by the KPC type, which may be justified by differences in the geographical distribution of Carbapenemases; Cameroon is an epidemiologically sporadic zone [15] [16]. The identified NDM and OXA-48 type Carbapenemases were more frequent in Enterobacteriaceae and mainly in E. coli and K. pneumoniae respectively. In France, Vaux et al. had shown a higher frequency in K. pneumoniae, as did Yusuf et al. in Nigeria [13] [15]. Currently the production of NDM in Enterobacteriaceae has been reported almost everywhere globally, especially in Asia, Australia, America and Europe, with the Indian subcontinent as the main reservoir [17]. NDM-4 β-Lactamase showing increased carbapenemase activity compared to NDM-1 has been described in a hospitalized patient in India; Dortet et al. showed that this variant was also present in Africa, isolated in particular from a patient coming from Douala, carrying E. coli strains expressing two NDM variants [18]. We did not identify any strains producing KPCs in the geographic area of this study, although they are currently the most clinically important in the world [19]. Initially described in the United States and presently distributed worldwide, this enzyme is most often found in K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp, and rare in P. aeruginosa and other Enterobacteriaceae [2] [19]. The most common Carbapenemases found in P. aeruginosa are mainly Metallo-beta-lactamases of the VIM and IMP type; in A. baumanii types NDM, IMP, VIM and OXA-23, 40 and 58 which are specific to it, but not OXA 48 [20]. OXA-48-producing bacteria, often the source of epidemics of healthcare-associated infections, have been widely reported in Turkey, followed by countries in North Africa, the Middle East and India [21]. The carbapenem-resistant strains isolated in this study and not producing NDM, OXA-48 or KPC may produce Carbapenemases not sought here, or have developed other resistance mechanisms [22]. These isolates are often associated with a decrease in external permeability, which is widespread in species of Enterobacteriaceae that naturally produce a cephalosporinase such as Enterobacter spp [2]. The sensitivity profile showed good activity of Fosfomycin and Amikacin on multi-resistant strains and significant activity on strains producing OXA-48 Carbapenemases; also reported by Harchay et al. in 2016 on MDR strains and by Ebongue et al. in 2018 on Enterobacteriaceae producing Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) in Douala [10] [23]. The good activity of these antibiotics on these strains could be attributed to the low use of these molecules in our environment.

This study reveals a strong resistance of the strains to Imipenem and other Carbapenems with MICs mostly greater than 4 µg/ml. This could be attributed to an increasing evolution of antibiotic resistance like described in some European countries [18] [24].

Two strains of phenotype sensitive to Imipenem and Meropenem producing NDM and OXA-48 respectively have been identified; the use of these molecules in these cases can lead to treatment failures.

The rapid techniques making it possible to detect the activity of Carbapenemases (hydrolysis in Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa and A. baumanii) but not the resistance genes are very sensitive and specific with results available quickly, unlike costly molecular techniques [9]. In a study carried out in Turkey on isolates of K. pneumoniae, the results obtained by the RESIST-3 OKN K-SeT immuno-chromatographic method were identical to those obtained by PCR targeting the carbapenemase genes bla_KPC, bla_NDM and/or bla_OXA-48 with 100% concordance [25]. Han et al. demonstrated the good performances of rapid immunochromatographic tests on clinical isolates, in comparison with molecular techniques (sensitivity greater than 99.4% according to the manufacturer and specificity of 100% for all the tests used in their study) [26].

We did not have the opportunity to confirm the expression of carbapenemase genes by PCR and DNA sequencing techniques.

This study on the fast detection of Carbapenemases demonstrated the presence of Gram-negative bacilli producing Carbapenemases, particularly types NDM-1 and OXA-48 in the city of Douala. It is essential to identify these layers to prevent their diffusion, the emergence of which could be linked to mutations to be explored by molecular techniques.

We express our gratitude to Mr. Michel Lambot and to the staff of all the Laboratories concerned for their support and cooperation during this study.

All data supporting these findings can be found in the bacteriological Unit of the Laboratory of Clinical Biology of the DGH.

COE and DA coordinated the study, COE, GS and JPNM drafted the manuscript, GS, ERM, GPN and GDN collected data and participated in its design, COE, GS and ERM performed the statistical analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

The study was conducted following ethics directives related to research in Cameroon. We obtained the research authorizations of the Directors of the concerned hospitals, and ethical clearance from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Research for Human Health of the University of Douala (N˚ 1405/UD/FMSP), and the approval of the Douala General Hospital institutional review board.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Ebongue, C.O., Simo, G.G., Mefo’o, J.P.N., Ngondi, G.D., Mengue, E.R., Ngaba, G.P. and Adiogo, D. (2021) Detection of the Production of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemase, New Delhi Metallo-Beta-Lactamase and Oxacillinase-48-Type Carbapenemases by Gram-Negative Bacilli in Resource-Limited Setting. Advances in Microbiology, 11, 579-590. https://doi.org/10.4236/aim.2021.1110042