Molecular Detection of Virulence Genes in Klebsiella Pneumoniae Clinical Isolates from Kurdistan Province, Iran

Background: The purpose of this study was to detectvirulence genes such as: ybtS, entB, mrkD, magA, kfu, iutA, rmpA and K2 genesin extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) - and non-ESBLproducing Klebsiella pneumoniae. Methods: Totally, 70 K. pneumoniaeisolates were selected from hospitals of Kurdistan Province, Iran. The ESBL phenotype was determined by usingthe disc diffusion technique in accordance with CLSI standard procedures. Detection of virulence factor genes was performed by the PCR methods.Sixty-two (88.6%) isolates of K. pneumoniae were ESBLproducers. The most frequent gene in all the isolates wasentB. Results: There were no significant differences between ESBL production and the presence of ybt S,entB, mrkD, magA, kfu, iutA, rmpA and K2 genes and the presence of these genes and variables such as presence of sex, clinical specimen type, and hvKP phenotype among the ESBL and non-ESBL K.pneumoniae isolates. Conclusion: frequency of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is increasing now. Detection of virulence factors that positively impact the pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae is of immense importance. The results of the current study showed that entB was the major virulence factor for K. pneumoniae (ESBL and non-ESBLpostitive) strains isolated from the clinical specimens in the hospitals of Kurdistan Province, Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

virulencefactors ، extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) ، Clinical Isolates ، Klebsiella Pneumoniae