Class I integrons among multidrug resistant isolates from hospitalized patients in Babol, North of Iran.

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) in has created therapeutic challenges all over the world. The present study was conducted for evaluating the prevalence of class I integron, determining the gene cassettes and antimicrobial resistance profile of isolates from clinical samples in Babol, North of Iran.

Methods: During a 13-month period, 30 isolates were collected from Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Babol, Iran. Various types of antimicrobial agents were used to determine the resistance pattern. Class I integron and associated gene cassettes were detected by PCR assay.

Results: The resistance rates to AP, CPM, CTX, TM, NI, IMI, AK, CIP and GM antimicrobials were 100%, 93.3%, 33.3%, 33.3%, 30%, 20%, 20%, 20% and 13.3%, respectively. The distribution results of genes showed that 63.3% of isolates carried the genes. Also, the prevalence of , , and genes were estimated at 36.6%%, 33.3%, 6.6% and 0%, respectively.

Conclusion: Our results showed that class I integrons have a widespread distribution among the isolates and have clinical relevance to MDR isolates. The results confirmed the necessity for uninterrupted monitoring to prevent distribution of multidrug resistance among . strains in Iran.