Biochemical and molecular evidence of β-lactamases in klebsiella species isolated from septic children admitted in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: Klebsiella is a genus of Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria with a prominent polysaccharide-based capsule. Antibiotic resistance patterns of Klebsiella species are often associated with molecular features. Purpose of this study was to detect Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL), AmpC Beta-Lactamases (AmpC) and Metallo-Beta-Lactamases (MBL) enzymes in Klebsiella species.

Methods: Total 259 samples were collected from patients (≤15 years old) admitted in various wards and visiting outpatient department of The Children Hospital, Lahore. All samples were processed and screened for ESBL, MBL and AmpC enzymes. Molecular detection by PCR was done to detect their genotypes and results were analyzed using SPSS software version 25.

Results: Out of 259 patients, ESBL positive, MBL positive and AmpC positive were 53 (20.5%), 64 (24.7%) and 86 (33.2%), respectively. The isolates found positive to screening test were further processed for molecular analyses. The results of the PCR amplification of the genes showed the presence of NDM-1 in 59 (22.8%), CIT in 30 (11.6%), SHV in 22 (8.5%), CTX-M in 14 (5.4%), EBC gene in 12 (4.6%) and TEM in 2 (0.8%) isolates. Two isolates co-produced all the three enzymes followed by 9 that co-produced MBL and ESBL, 4 isolates co-produced AmpC and MBL and 4 co-produced ESBL and AmpC.

Conclusion: A large number of patients were found to have serious bacterial infections with significant number of ESBL, MBL and AmpC-production along with co-existence.