Background Carbapenems resistant hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are one of the most critical organisms that cause fatal nosocomial infections. This study aimed to detect and characterize K. pneumoniae virulence genes (mrkD, entB, rmpA, K2, kfu, and magA) and carbapenem resistant (blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA−48, and blaKPC) genes Methods Sixty K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from urine, blood, wound swab, and sputum samples, in two age groups: neonates and adults. String test was used to detect hypervirulent strains. Susceptibility testing for a wide range of antibiotics was performed on all isolates. DNA was extracted by the guanidine chloride method, then multiplex PCR was used for the detection of carbapenem-resistance and virulence genes. Results Seventy percent of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime and 8% to imipenem, 35% were multi-drug resistant, and 7% extensively drug-resistant, all neonatal blood isolates (n = 15) were resistant to ceftazidime. entB was the most predominant virulence gene (93.3%), followed by mrkD (78.3%), kfu (60%), K2 (51.7%), magA (18.3%) and rmpA (5%). blaOXA−48 was the most predominant carbapenem-resistant gene (68.3%), followed by blaNDM (10%), blaKPC (8.3%), and blaIMP (3.3%). Eight hyper-virulent strains were positive for blaOXA−48 and two for blaNDM genes. The study concluded that there is a high rate of carbapenems resistant genes in hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients. Conclusion The study reported for the first time in Sudan presence of carbapenems resistant genes in hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients. Presence of MDR and XDR strains of K. pneumoniae in neonatal ward in some Sudanese hospitals.

Abstract ObjectiveKlebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) involves both community-acquired infections and nosocomial infections. It is responsible for a wide variety of infections including infections of the urinary tract, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, wound infection and purulent abscesses. We constructed this study to detect several carbapenems resistant and virulence genes in classical and hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized neonates and adults in Khartoum state. ResultsSeventy percent of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime and 8% to imipenem, 35% were multi-drug resistant, and 7% extensively drug-resistant, all neonatal blood isolates (n=15) were resistant to ceftazidime. entB was the most predominant virulence gene (93.3%), followed by mrkD (78.3%), kfu (60%), K2 (51.7%), magA (18.3%) and rmpA (5%). blaOXA-48 was the most predominant carbapenem-resistant gene (68.3%), followed by blaNDM (10%), blaKPC (8.3%), and blaIMP (3.3%). Eight hyper-virulent strains were positive for blaOXA-48 and two for blaNDM genes.

Abstract Objective Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) involves both community-acquired and nosocomial infections. It is responsible for a wide variety of infections, including infections of the urinary tract, pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, wound infection and purulent abscesses. We constructed this study to detect several carbapenems resistant and virulence genes in classical and hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized neonates and adults in Khartoum state. Results Seventy percent of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, 18(30%) to ciprofloxacin, 23(38.3%) to chloramphenicol, 24(40%) to gentamicin and 8% to imipenem, 35% were multidrug-resistant, and 7% extensively drug-resistant, all blood isolates (n=14) were resistant to ceftazidime. entB was the most predominant virulence gene (93.3%), followed by mrkD (78.3%), kfu (60%), K2 (51.7%), magA (18.3%) and rmpA (5%). blaOXA-48 was the most predominant carbapenem-resistant gene (68.3%), followed by blaNDM (10%), blaKPC (8.3%), and blaIMP (3.3%). Eight hyper-virulent strains were positive for blaOXA-48 and two for blaNDM genes.

Background Carbapenems resistant hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are one of the most critical organisms that cause fatal nosocomial infections. This study aimed to detect and characterize K. pneumoniae virulence genes (mrkD, entB, rmpA, K2, kfu, and magA) and carbapenem resistant (blaNDM, blaIMP, blaOXA−48, and blaKPC) genes Methods Sixty K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from urine, blood, wound swab, and sputum samples, in two age groups: neonates and adults. String test was used to detect hypervirulent strains. Susceptibility testing for a wide range of antibiotics was performed on all isolates. DNA was extracted by the guanidine chloride method, then multiplex PCR was used for the detection of carbapenem-resistance and virulence genes. Results Seventy percent of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime and 8% to imipenem, 35% were multi-drug resistant, and 7% extensively drug-resistant, all neonatal blood isolates (n = 15) were resistant to ceftazidime. entB was the most predominant virulence gene (93.3%), followed by mrkD (78.3%), kfu (60%), K2 (51.7%), magA (18.3%) and rmpA (5%). blaOXA−48 was the most predominant carbapenem-resistant gene (68.3%), followed by blaNDM (10%), blaKPC (8.3%), and blaIMP (3.3%). Eight hyper-virulent strains were positive for blaOXA−48 and two for blaNDM genes. The study concluded that there is a high rate of carbapenems resistant genes in hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients. Conclusion The study reported for the first time in Sudan presence of carbapenems resistant genes in hyper-virulent strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients. Presence of MDR and XDR strains of K. pneumoniae in neonatal ward in some Sudanese hospitals.