Background and objective: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogen, associated with nosocomially acquired infections. This study aimed to determine the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and to correlate the antibiotic resistance with the presence of virulence genes revealed by molecular genotypic testing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Materials and methods: About 23 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected from various specimen types. Identification of the organisms was carried out. Antimicrobial susceptibility performed against 12 antibiotics. The DNA was isolated and purified then genotypic confirmation was done through polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to detect TEM, SHV, CTX-M, IMP and KPC genes. PCR products were sequenced and aligned with GenBank sequences.
Results: Out of 23 isolates of K. pneumoniae, the majority (43.5%) was from tracheal aspirate. The percentage of females (65.2%) was more than males (34.8%). The highest isolates prevalence was found in the age group of >58 (39.1%). About 100% of isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime and ampicillin and 91.3% were sensitive to amikacin and Imipenem. Most isolates were SHV-9 gene positive (52.2%). It was found that tested isolates had 99-100% similarity when compared to GenBank sequences.
Conclusion: There was a preponderance of SHV-9 gene which suggests dissemination of the gene in the tested isolates.
Keywords: DNA sequencing; GenBank sequences; Klebsiella pneumoniae; anti-biotic resistance; extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; virulence genes.