Bacteriological and Molecular Detection of Klebsiella oxytoca and its Resistance to Antibiotics among Clinical Specimens from Kirkuk, Iraq

Klebsiella spp. are gram-negative bacteria that are considered serious public health problems causing urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia infections, and soft tissue infections. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Klebsiella oxytoca (K. oxytoca) among clinical samples and determine their resistance against various antimicrobial medicines with molecular identification of K. oxytoca by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using a specific sequence of pehX gene. A total of 250 clinical samples including throat, wound, and vaginal swabs were obtained. Participants were of both genders and different ages. The samples were streaked on the blood and MacConkey agars. Antibiotic sensitivity test was made by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Molecular identification of K. oxytoca was performed for all isolates. Out of 250 clinical samples, K. oxytoca was reported in 32 (12.8%) cases. The highest prevalence was observed in 18(18%) cases of throat swabs, 16 (16%) cases of wound swabs, and 6 (6%) cases of vagina swabs. By the way, female cases were more affected 22 (14.5%) with K. oxytoca than male cases 10 (10.10%). Infected participants aged 15-40 years were more affected with K. oxytoca (23, 12.73%) compared to patients aged 41-65 years (9, 9.67%). The highest resistance pattern of K. oxytoca was 100% against Augmentin, Ampicillin, Cephalothin, Piperacillin, and Rifampin on one hand, and 62.50%, 59.37%, 53.12%, 53.12%, and 50% against Ceftazidime, Cefixime, Cefotaxime, Trimethoprim, and Aztreonam on the other hand, respectively. The highest sensitivity was observed against Amikacin and Imipenem (9.37%) and it was 21.87%, 21.87%, 25%, 25%, 28.12%, 28.12%, and 28.12% against Meropenem, Chloramphenicol, Nalidixic acid, Ciprofloxacin, Tobramycin, Gentamicin, and Doxycycline, respectively. Through molecular identification of K. oxytoca, all isolates showed a PCR product with 344-bp specific primer (pehX) that performed the K. oxytoca.