KPC-producer gram negative bacteria among burned infants in Motahari Hospital, Tehran: first report from Iran

Area of Science:

• Medical Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are a growing global health concern.
• Burn infections are susceptible to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial colonization and infection.
• Limited data exists on KPC prevalence in vulnerable pediatric populations in Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the phenotypic detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC) among Gram-negative bacteria isolated from burn infants in Iran.
• To identify the specific bacterial species producing KPC.
• To assess the antibiotic resistance patterns associated with KPC-producing isolates.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary burn hospital in Tehran, Iran.
• Bacterial isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella spp.) were collected from burn patients.
• Phenotypic detection of KPC was performed using the Modified Hodge Test, alongside antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Main Results:

• Thirteen of 15 imipenem-resistant Gram-negative strains were confirmed as KPC-producers, isolated from nine burn infants.
• Six strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, six of Acinetobacter baumannii, and three of Klebsiella pneumoniae produced KPC.
• Ten strains exhibited resistance to all tested antibiotics except colistin, and four strains were co-producers of KPC and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs).

Conclusions:

• This study represents the first report of KPC-producing Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella in burn infants in Iran.
• The high prevalence of MDR and KPC-producing organisms presents a significant challenge for managing infections in this patient group.
• Effective infection control strategies are crucial to curb the spread of KPC-producing bacteria in burn units.