Evaluation of Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Clinical Urine Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Semnan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae as an opportunistic pathogen can be the cause of a range of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Many virulence factors help these bacteria overcome an immune system and cause various diseases. K1 and K2 capsular antigens, also magA, wcaG, and rmpA are well-known K. pneumoniae virulence factors. Klebsiella pneumoniae has been revealed to have the ability to acquire resistance to many antibiotics, which cause treatment failure. Objectives: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of magA, wcaG, rmpA, Capsular type K1, Capsular type K2, TEM, and SHV in K. pneumoniae isolates. Methods: A total of 173 non-duplicate K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from two different hospitals in Semnan, Iran, from urine specimens. Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified by conventional bacteriological tests. Disk diffusion test was performed according to the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Detection of virulence factors, TEM, and SHV gene was performed by specific primers.

The complex genetic region conferring transferable antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant and extremely drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates

“…Although integrons are not mobile genetic elements they can be transmitted by transposons, plasmids and chromosomes, and easily spread among Gram-negative bacteria. The role of integrons in the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains is the issue that causes concern about the presence of integrons in bacteria [ 19 , 20 ]. The emergence of MDR and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria, particularly K. pneumoniae , is of serious concern in the development of new therapies for bacterial infections.…”