Identification of beta-lactamase genes and molecular genotyping of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae

• Published in: BMC microbiology 2024-12, Vol.24 (1), p.549-8, Article 549
• Main Authors: Ferdosi-Shahandashti, Azadeh, Pournajaf, Abazar, Ferdosi-Shahandashti, Elaheh, Zaboli, Fatemeh, Javadi, Kasra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial pneumonia; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Beta lactamases; beta-Lactamases - genetics; Carbapenemase; Drug resistance in microorganisms; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Female; Genes; Genotype; Genotyping techniques; Hospitals; Humans; Imipenem; Iran; Klebsiella Infections - microbiology; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Klebsiella pneumoniae - drug effects; Klebsiella pneumoniae - enzymology; Klebsiella pneumoniae - genetics; Klebsiella pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Molecular Typing - methods; Multidrug-resistant; Pneumonia; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Public health; Tazobactam; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2180; 1471-2180
• DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03679-6

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a clinically relevant pathogen that has raised considerable public health concerns. This study aims to determine the presence of beta-lactamase genes and perform molecular genotyping of multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. Clinical isolates of MDR K. pneumoniae were collected from educational hospitals affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences. The isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified through standard microbial and biochemical tests. Antibiotic resistance was assessed using disk diffusion, modified Hodge test (MHT), combined disk, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR was performed for molecular typing. A total of 42 MDR K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from various clinical specimens. The highest antibiotic resistance was observed for ampicillin (100%), while the lowest resistance was noted for amikacin (19.04%). The MHT indicated that 38.09% of K. pneumoniae isolates produced carbapenemase enzymes. Metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production was found in 54.76% of isolates. Molecular detection of beta-lactamase genes revealed the presence of bla (21.42%), bla (42.85%), bla (76.19%), bla (47.16%), and bla (80.95%) genes. ERIC-PCR molecular typing identified seven distinct genetic patterns among the isolates. This investigation demonstrates the high resistance levels of K. pneumoniae strains. The beta-lactamase genes with the highest and lowest frequencies correspond to bla and bla genes, respectively. ERIC-PCR dendrograms suggest a common origin for K. pneumoniae clinical isolates and the propagation of similar clones within hospital wards. These findings indicate that K. pneumoniae isolates are highly virulent, necessitating the development of more effective resistance-fighting techniques and gene transfer research. Not applicable.