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Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant K. Pneumoniae Isolated from Intensive Care Units of Zagazig University

Nessma Hessin Mohamed Gandor1, Ghada El-Sayed Amr1, Sahar Mohamed Saad Eldin Algammal2

  • 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Alsharquia 44519, Egypt.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a growing threat. The NDM gene was most common in Egyptian ICU isolates, highlighting a significant public health burden.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections are a critical concern, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • Carbapenems are often the last-resort antibiotics for treating these severe nosocomial infections.
  • The increasing prevalence of CRKP necessitates understanding local resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates from patients in Zagazig University Hospitals (ZUHs) ICU, Egypt.
  • To identify the prevalence of key carbapenemase-encoding genes (blaNDM, blaOXA-48, blaKPC) in these isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae from ICU patients.
  • Molecular detection of carbapenemase-encoding genes, including blaNDM, blaOXA-48, and blaKPC, using appropriate laboratory techniques.

Main Results:

  • The study identified CRKP isolates from the ZUHs ICU.
  • The blaNDM gene was the most predominant carbapenemase-encoding gene, found in 56.2% of isolates.
  • blaOXA-48 and blaKPC genes were present in 41.0% and 32.4% of isolates, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • The high prevalence of carbapenemase-encoding genes, particularly blaNDM, in CRKP isolates from Egyptian ICUs is a significant public health challenge.
  • This situation contributes to substantial morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in developing countries like Egypt.
  • Urgent strategies are needed to combat the spread of CRKP and manage infections effectively.
Keywords:
CRKPEgyptblaKPCblaNDMblaOXA-48

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