Characterization of multidrug and heavy metal resistance of carbapenemases producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from poultry samples in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND: Resistance to multiple drugs in Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN) is an important issue in human and animal medicine. KPN phenotypic and genotypic aspects in poultry samples have not been comprehensively explored in Bangladesh. METHODS: This research focused on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the characterization of KPN in Bangladeshi poultry isolates using both phenotypic and genotypic approaches. RESULTS: A total of 32 poultry samples were randomly obtained from a commercial poultry farm in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, and 43.90% (18/41) of the isolates were confirmed to be KPN, whereas all isolates were biofilm producers. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed the most remarkable (100%) antibiotic resistance level against Ampicillin, Doxycycline and Tetracycline while remaining susceptible to Doripenem, Meropenem, Cefoxitin and Polymyxin B. Resistance to Nalidixic acid, Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim, Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Cefuroxime and Chloramphenicol ranges from 18% to 70%. Minimum inhibitory concentrations for carbapenem‐resistant KPN ranged from 128 to 512 mg/mL for Meropenem, Imipenem, Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin, respectively. [Correction added on 15 June 2023, after first online publication: 512 g/mL was corrected to 512 mg/mL in the preceding sentence]. Carbapenemase‐producing KPN isolates harboured a single or multiple β‐lactamase genes, bla (SIM‐1), bla (IMP‐4) and bla (OXA‐48) as well as one ESBL gene (bla (TEM)) and plasmid‐mediated quinolone resistance gene (qnrB). Furthermore, Cr and Co outperformed Cu and Zn in antibacterial effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this investigation showed that the high prevalence of multidrug‐resistant pathogenic KPN in our chosen geographic location had displayed sensitivity to FOX/PB/Cr/Co, which might be regarded as an alternate treatment to reduce pressure of use on carbapenems.