Abstract
BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the significant agents of hospital-acquired infections. In recent years, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates have been found in numerous epidemics of nosocomial infections. This study aimed to determine carbapenem resistance mechanisms and molecular epidemiological of CRKP infections in Azerbaijan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 non-duplicated CRKP from January 2020 to December 2020 were isolated form Sina and Imam Reza Hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk-diffusion method. The carbapenem resistance mechanisms were determined by the phenotypic and PCR procedures. CRKP isolates were typed by the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD-PCR) technique. RESULTS: Amikacin was the most effective antibiotics against CRKP isolates. AmpC overproduction was observed in five CRKP isolates. Efflux pump activity was found in one isolate by the phenotypic method. Carba NP test could find carbapenemases genes in 96% of isolates. The most common carbapenemases gene in CRKP isolates were bla(OXA-48-like) (76%) followed by bla(NDM) (50%), bla(IMP) (22%), bla(VIM) (10%), and bla(KPC) (10%). The outer membrane protein genes (OmpK36 and OmpK35) were identified in 76% and 82% of CRKP isolates, respectively. RAPD-PCR analysis yielded 37 distinct RAPD-types. Most bla(OXA-48-like) positive CRKP isolates were obtained from patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) wards with urinary tract infections. CONCLUSION: The bla(OXA-48-like) is the main carbapenemase among CRKP isolates in this area. Most bla(OXA-48-like) producer CRKP strains were collected from the ICU ward and urine samples. To control infections due to CRKP, a strict control program in hospital settings is required.