Co-existence of blaOXA-48, rmtB and armA among Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Causing Respiratory Tract Infections in Alexandria, Egypt

ElBaradei, Amira; Shawky, Sherine

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2022.228619

Co-existence of blaOXA-48, rmtB and armA among Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates Causing Respiratory Tract Infections in Alexandria, Egypt

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

Amira ElBaradei ¹
Sherine Shawky ²

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunologgy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. Alexandria University Hospital, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

² Department of Microbiology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

10.21608/ejmm.2022.228619

Abstract

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is frequently implicated in numerous health-care infections, including respiratory tract infections. Aminoglycosides are among the available options to manage such infections. Hence, resistance to aminoglycosides in K. pneumoniae isolates is a clear source of concern. Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of 16S rRNA methyltransferases genes among aminoglycoside resistant K. pneumoniae isolates causing respiratory tract infections. Methodology: K. pneumoniae isolates resistant to gentamycin, tobramycin and amikacin were collected from samples obtained from respiratory tract infections from different hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disc diffusion method. Genotypically, we investigated the presence of different 16S rRNA methyltransferases encoding genes (armA, rmtA, rmtB, rmtC and rmtD) as well as other genes (aac(6')Ib and blaOXA-48). Results: Thirty K. pneumoniae isolates resistant to aminoglycosides were collected, and they were also resistant to carbapenems. Fourteen out of the 30 (46.67%) isolates harbored armA gene and two of these 30 isolates (6.67%) carried rmtB. However, rmtA, rmtC and rmtD were not detected. Fifteen (50%) of the isolates harbored aac(6')Ib gene. On the other hand, blaOXA-48 gene was present in 29 (96.67%) out of our 30 isolates. Conclusions: All isolates that were resistant to aminoglycosides were found to be multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates. Eighteen isolates harbored at least one gene conferring resistance to aminoglycosides. Fourteen of these harbored genes encoding 16S rRNA methyltransferases. The co-occurrence of different resistance genes among many of our isolates represents a clear threat.

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