Molecular Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Sputum in a Tertiary Hospital in Xinxiang, China

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is a common opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infection. This study aimed to analyze the trend of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulent characteristics of K. pneumoniae isolated from sputum. In clinics, data of the current study will help in the clinical treatment of K. pneumoniae infection. RESULTS: The current research showed the resistance rates of the 20 K. pneumoniae isolates against 13 antibiotics ranged from 15.0% to 80.0%. The detection rate of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) was up to 55%, while bla(SHV) was the most prevalent ESBLs genes. Four strains (25.0%) of K. pneumoniae presented hypermucoviscous phenotype (HMV). Moreover, 18 strains (90.0%) showed the stronger biofilm-forming ability. wzi, wab(G), fim(H), mrk(D) were the most prevalent virulence genes in current research. Ten strains were found capsule typing and the higher genetic diversity of colonizing K. pneumoniae in this region. K(19) exhibited a strong positive correlation with imipenem resistance, while K(1) showed strong correlations with mag(A). Furthermore, HMV phenotype showed significantly negative correlations with multidrug-resistant. CONCLUSION: In the hospital, the antibiotic resistance of K. pneumoniae (isolated from sputum samples) has a serious concern. Additionally, strains of K. pneumoniae show the higher genetic diversity.