PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF FIVE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE GENES ASSOCIATED WITH Klebsiella pneumoniae ISOLATED FROM BURN INFECTION PATIENTS

The current study was carried out for the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of five antimicrobial resistance-associated genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from burn infection patients. Total one hundred three (103) bacterial samples (strains) were isolated from the 103 burn infection patients admitted at Middle Euphrates Burns Center of AL-Kufa City Iraq. Out of total isolated bacterial samples (103), there were 31 isolates (30%) identified as Pseudomonas sp., 23 isolates (22.3%) as K. pneumonia, 22 isolates as Staphylococcus sps. (21.4%), 11 isolates as E. coli (10.6%), 8 isolates as Acinetobacter sps. (7.8%), 5 isolates as Enterobacter sps. (4.9%), while the lowest prevalence (3 isolates) was reported for the Proteus spp. (3%). The antimicrobial sensitivity test indicated that all isolated K. pneumoniae have resistant (100%) against standard antibiotic Amoxicillin. While Imipenem is the only antibiotic that can inhibit the growth of all 23 isolates. Further, according to the phenotypic detection method, there were 14 isolates (61%) capable of production of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL). Genotypic method to detect the presence of five antibiotic resistance genes by polymerase chain reaction proved that 13 isolates (56.5%) were Tem gene, 18 isolates (78.2%) were positive for Shv gene, 8 isolates (34.7%) were positive Ctxm gene, three isolates (13%) were positive for Oxa gene and 10 isolates (43.7%) positive for AmpC gene. Results of the study can be concluded that K. pneumoniae is the second causative agent that causes burn infection and has higher antibiotics resistance. Extended spectrum beta lactamase of K. pneumoniae was higher prevalence in burn infection and harbored many beta lactamase genes