Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns and Virulence Profiles of Classical and Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Strains Isolated from Clinical Samples in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
The emergence of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant hypermucoviscous <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> strains presents a significant public health challenge due to their increased virulence and resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study evaluates the antibiotic susceptibility pattern...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/79 |
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| Summary: | The emergence of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant hypermucoviscous <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> strains presents a significant public health challenge due to their increased virulence and resistance to multiple antibiotics. This study evaluates the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and virulence profiles of classical and hypervirulent <i>K. pneumoniae</i> strains isolated from various clinical samples. A total of 500 clinical samples were collected from patients at the Mardan Medical Complex and Ayub Medical Complex in KPK between July 2022 and June 2024. Among these, 64 <i>K. pneumoniae</i> strains were isolated and subsequently subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and phenotypic virulence detection. Among the 64 isolates, 21 (32.8%) exhibited hypermucoviscosity, a characteristic associated with increased pathogenicity. Hemagglutination was observed in 35 (54.1%) of the isolates, indicating the presence of surface adhesins that facilitate bacterial adherence to host tissues. A high prevalence of biofilm formation was noted, with 54 (84%) isolates capable of forming biofilms, which are known to protect bacteria from antibiotics and the host immune response. Most isolates (59/64, 92.1%) were resistant against ampicillin, highlighting its limited efficacy against these strains. Conversely, the lowest resistance was observed for tigecycline, with only 15% (10/64) of the isolates showing resistance, indicating its potential utility as a treatment option. The study also found that 38 (59.3%) of the isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, 42 (65.6%) were multidrug-resistant (MDR), 32 (50%) were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and 13 (20.3%) were resistant to carbapenems. The genetic study revealed biofilm producer and enhancer genes (<i>mrkD</i>, <i>pgaABCD</i>, <i>fimH</i>, <i>treC</i>, <i>wzc</i>, <i>pilQ</i>, and <i>luxS</i>) mainly in the hypervirulent strains. These hypervirulent strains also show a high number of resistance genes. The findings of this study underscore the critical need for the active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants in <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. The coexistence of high levels of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in these isolates poses a severe threat to public health, as it can lead to difficult-to-treat infections and increased morbidity and mortality. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-0817 |