Detection of efflux pump gene cepA in Klebsiella pneumonia and its effect on resistance to biocides

Abstract

Background & Aims: Klebsiella pneumonia (K.pneumonia) is one of the causative agents of lung infections, wound infections, urinary tract, and bloody diarrhea. One of the most common ways of transmission in neonatal and surgical wards is through hospital staff, nurses, and physicians. It could be transmitted to hospitalized patients and personnel through feces, respiratory secretions, contaminated equipment, and hands. To prevent the transmission of nosocomial infections, hand washing of employees with biocides can be effective. Materials & Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration of 65 K.pneumonia isolates was determined according to CLSI guidelines compared to common biocides used in educational hospitals in Urmia, Iran, such as benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. PCR was performed to evaluate the presence of cepA genes. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between the presence of cepA gene and high MIC compared to chlorhexidine bioside in K. pneumoniae. But there was no significant relationship between the presence of cepA gene and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. Conclusion: It is concluded that, detection of cepA gene or other genes involving drug resistance should be extended by using another tests with more reliability and reproducibility like gene expressions and gene cloning methods