Metallo-beta-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in hospitals in Recife, PE, Brazil

out of 24 nosocomial strains of pseudomonas aeruginosa from recife, brazil, 15 (62%) were metallo-b-lactamase producers. such isolates were resistant to main antipseudomonas drugs, except polymixyn b and aztreonam. the enzyme responsible for the carbapenem-resistance belongs to spm-1 class, and the gene involved, blaspm-1, is likely plasmid located.