Background: Stenotrophomonas infections are becoming more widespread around the world and can be counted as a "newly emerging pathogen of concern". The present study aimed to detect a variety of Stenotrophomonas species (S. maltophilia) using specific 23S rRNA gene primers and investigate their multi-drug resistance potential.Methods: This study includes 375 clinical samples from different clinical sources 175 from males and 200 from females collected from Mosul City Hospital. Identification of Stenotrophomonas was conducted through multiple steps including culturing methods, molecular methods in addition to some biochemical tests 11(3%) of isolates belonged to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The isolates understudy were tested for their ability to resist 10 different antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.Results: The resistance rate to amoxicillin, gentamicin, and amikacin (100%), cefixime (91%), imipenem (64%), meropenem(55%), Azithromycin (36%), nalidixic acid and trimethoprim (18%), ciprofloxacin(0%). The virulence factors of S. maltophilia siderophores were found in all (11) isolates belonging to S. maltophilia at a percentage (100%). The result of PCR assay using specific primers designed for detecting 23S rRNA genes of S. maltophilia gives amplification for 11 isolates from 14 suspected isolates. Nucleic acid sequencing for the 23S rRNA gene shows that all isolates belong to S. maltophilia with a similarity rate (91-99) in NCBI.Because the 23S rRNA gene sequence in Stenotrophomonas species shows more variety in this location this study used specific 23S rRNA gene primers to identify S. maltophilia.Conclusion: The study used phenotypic and molecular diagnostic techniques to isolate the bacteria, including the S rRNA23 gene. The results emphasize the need for increased vigilance in hospitals to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the development of new treatment strategies.

Department of Biology College of Science University of Mosul Almajmoaa Street 41002 Mosul Iraq

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