TetA and tetB Genes in Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated From Clinical Samples

Abstract

Background: The emergence of antibiotic resistance among clinical and nonclinical bacteria is a global public health problem. Klebsiella Pneumoniae is one of the most pathogens that contains a variety of gens and shows resistance to many antibiotics. Perpetual monitoring of the resistant bacteria is an important in order to limit the development of resistance among these pathogens. Objectives: The current study aimed to monitor the prevalence of tetA and tetB resistance genes in Klebsiella Pneumoniae species isolated from the patients with urinary tract infection who hospitalized in Mir Hospital of Zabol, Iran from 2011 to 2012. Materials and Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, a total of 30 strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated from urine cultures of hospitalized patients in Mir Hospital (Zabol, south-east of Iran) who had urinary tract infections from 2011 to 2012. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was evaluated for four antibiotics including ceftazidime, cefixime, tetracycline and erythromycin using standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The K. pneumoniae genome was extracted by simple boiling method, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method also was used to detect tetA and tetB genes by specific pair of primers. Results: The K. pneumonia isolates were resistant to erythromycin (70%), cefixime (53.3%), tetracycline (50%) and ceftazidime (36.6%). The amplification of tetA and tetB genes of K. pneumonia revealed that all of the isolates harbored these genes. Conclusions: Resistance to tetracycline and other antibiotics, and the presence of various resistance genes in K. pneumonia strains are alarming signs in Zabol area. The current study strongly recommends limiting the consumption of antibiotics including tetracycline. Further studies should be conducted in order to find out the extent of the problem in other areas.