Molecular identification of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes of 𝑘𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎 𝑝𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎 isolated from the patients

Ebsiella is a significant human pathogen that causes both communicable and opportunistic nosocomial diseases. The increasing number of multidrug-resistant forms of Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a serious public health threat. This study examined the frequency of three virulence genes and three antibiotic resistance genes. 100 samples (50 sputa and 50 wound infections) were collected from Al-Imam Alhusian Teaching Hospital in Karbala City, Iraq, from September 2023 to January 2024. Identification of isolates was based on colony features, Gram staining techniques, and standard biochemical responses, and confirmed by the 16S rRNA gene. Virulence factor genes (fimH, entB, and uge) and beta-lactamase enzyme genes (TEM, CTX-M, and SHV) were examined using specific primers in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Then antibiotic susceptibility test was conducted on these isolates using the disc diffusion method. A total of 16 isolates (16%) were obtained from sputa and wound samples. The isolates had the entB gene in 11 (68.75%), fimH and uge genes in 7 (43.75%), and SHV, TEM, and CTX-M genes in 16 (100%), 15 (93.75%), and 9 (56.25%), respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility test showed that all isolates were sensitive to Gentamicin, Amikacin, Ceftazidime (16, 100%), Ciprofloxacin (15, 93.7%), Nitrofurantoin (14, 87.5%), and Cefotaxime (9, 56.2%), while being resistant to Tetracyclines (16, 100%) and Imipenem (16, 100%). The prevalence of resistance genes is higher than that of virulence genes, indicating that the virulence of these bacteria is likely due to the spread of resistance genes.