Characterization and molecular epidemiology of extensively prevalent nosocomial isolates of drugresistant klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

We characterized six drug-resistant nosocomial isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae obtained in a hospital located in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, by determining their antibiotic sensitivity profiles, detecting the blaKPC genetic marker and examining their clonal relationships. All isolates were found to be extensively drug resistant. A PCR assay was used to confirm the identity of the isolates as K. pneumoniae and assess the blaKPC gene. All isolates tested positive for the blaKPC gene, which is related to carbapenem resistance. The genetic profiles and clonal relationships among the isolates were evaluated by ERIC-PCR. All the isolates were in a single group with two distinct subgroups. Analysis of the genetic diversity among the isolates revealed that five of the six were clones, which suggests cross-transmission in this hospital environment. Five of the patients died from infection. We describe the first detection of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates from a hospital in northern Minas Gerais state.