Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground and AimsKlebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), included in the World Health Organization's list of critical priority pathogens, is considered a serious threat to public health. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of virulence‐associated and aminoglycoside resistance genes in clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study was carried out on 88 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae collected from patients at Zabol hospital, Iran. Isolates were identified using conventional microbiology tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were ascertained by the disc diffusion method. The prevalence of virulence‐associated genes (K1, K2, K5, iucA, and peg‐344) and aminoglycoside resistance (AME) genes (aac (2′)‐Ia, aac (3)‐IIa, aac (3)‐Ib, aac (6′)‐1b, ant (2″)‐Ia, and aph (3″)‐Ib) was investigated by PCR.ResultsThe isolates were mostly resistant to kanamycin (73.8%) and streptomycin (69.3%). The most predominant virulence gene was iucA, observed in 89.8% of isolates, followed by peg‐344 55.7% and K5 14.8%. The most prevalent resistance gene was aph (3″)‐Ib, which was detected in 35.2% of isolates, followed by ant (2″)‐Ia 22.7% and aac (3)‐Ib 17%. In addition, sixteen different patterns of AME genes were observed.ConclusionMost investigated isolates of K. pneumoniae were positive for different virulence‐associated and AME genes and therefore can play a significant role in life‐threatening infections. Meanwhile, resistance rates to aminoglycoside antibiotics were high and it was primarily due to the presence of AME genes such as aph (3″)‐Ib, ant (2″)‐Ia, and aac (3)‐Ib.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call