Molecular Analysis of KPC and GES Beta-Lactamase Genes in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae by PCR Method

Abstract

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumoniae) has been recently identified as the major class of pathogens and the treatment became the biggest challenge in this bacterium. We assessed the antibiotic resistance patterns of K. pneumoniae, the frequency of resistant strains to imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem, and the frequency of K. pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC), and Guiana-Extended-Spectrum (GES) metallo-β-lactamase genes. Methods: The phenotypes of 200 strains of K. pneumonia, collected from 650 clinical samples, were isolating and identified in Qom, Iran. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the strains was analyzed against different antibiotics. The imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem-resistant strains, were isolated and the frequency of KPC and GES genes were evaluated. Results: K. pneumoniae strains had different resistance patterns against various antibiotics. The isolated strains with the highest and lowest antibiotic resistance were related to ampicillin, and meropenem, respectively. Investigation of the KPC and GES β lactamase showed that none of 48 imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem-resistance isolates had the KPC gene. In addition, the GES gene was detected in 3(2.7%) of 110 ceftazidime-resistant specimens. Conclusions: Carbapenem is useful in the treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Due to the importance of the mechanisms of resistance is by β-lactamase genes, investigating the prevalence of β-lactamase genes can help to increase the necessity of choosing the appropriate treatment for K. pneumoniae.