Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella oxytoca Detection Using Molecular Methods

Abstract

The rapid increase and dissemination of carbapene mases, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), has become a major problem within the field of healthcare-related infection. There are few antibiotics to treat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, so the identification of resistant bacterial mechanisms is critical to initiate infection control and conduct epidemiological research. A rapid and effective method for detecting KPC-producing bacteria is needed to avoid therapeutic failures and introduce measures to prevent and control the dissemination of these multi-resistant bacteria. During the study period, 31 isolates (seven isolates of Acinetobacter spp., six isolates of Morganella morganii, five isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, five isolates of Proteus mirabilis, one isolate of Proteus vulgaris, two isolates of Enterobacter cloacae, one isolate of Enterobacter aerogenes, one isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae, one isolate of Klebsiella oxytoca, one isolate of Serratia marcescens and one isolate of Escherichia coli) were identified by the VITEK. Gram negative rod bacteria were the most frequently isolated from urine (35.5%), blood (19.4%), sputum (16.1%), pus (9.7%), ascitic fluid (9.7%), tracheal aspirates (6.5%) and bile juice (3.2%). Analysis using the PCR method identified the blaKPC gene in the K. oxytoca1 strain, but the blaIMP, blaVIM and blaOXA-48 genes are not amplified. In conclusion, diagnosis using the PCR method can accurately and quickly diagnose KPC, thus establishing quick preventive measures to prevent the spread of KPC in hospitals.