Phenotypic and genotypic detection of extended spectrum beta lactamase enzyme in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Background Klebsiella species are ubiquitous in nature and can be found in the natural environment and on mucosal surfaces of mammals and it is an important multidrug-resistant pathogen affecting humans and is a major source for hospital acquired infections. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of ESBL enzyme among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates by phenotypic methods from different hospital wards and detection of ESBL resistance genes such as TEM and SHV in Sulaimani city/ Kurdistan–Iraq. Methods Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected from different clinical samples from different hospitals, the isolates were identified by standard technique. Screening of ESBLs was undertaken by using double disk diffusion and standard disk diffusion methods. Real-time PCR was used for genotypic detection of TEM and SHV genes according to the standard protocol. Result Out of 54 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates; 28 were ESBL positive, The pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the most resistant antibiotic are AMP (100%), AMC (100%) followed by CAZ (83.33%), CTX (75.9%), CPM (74%), ATM (70.37%). Both TEM and SHV genes were detected among 28 (51.85%) ESBL positive by using Real-time PCR method. Conclusion SHV gene was detected in most of the isolates of ESBL producers of Klebsiella pneumoniae.