Detection of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Tanta University Hospital, Egypt

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the frequency of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) isolated from various hospital-acquired infection cases admitted to Tanta University Hospital, Egypt and to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of these isolates.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Place and Duration of Study: After collection of K. pneumoniae isolates from microbiology laboratory of Tanta University Hospital. Further work was carried out in the laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt, from June 2015 to May 2016.

Methodology: A total of 113 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from different hospital-acquired infections and were tested for hypermucoviscosity phenotype by string test. Antibiotic disc diffusion test was performed for all isolates to identify their resistance pattern. Existence of rmpA gene was investigated by polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Forty-six out of 113 (40.71%) isolates were string test-positive (HVKP), the remaining 67 (59.29%) negative isolates were CKP. Twenty-six (56.52%) out of 46 HVKP isolates possessed rmpA gene. Lower resistance rates were observed in HVKP than CKP.

Conclusion: ESBL production by rmpA-positive HVKP isolates in hospital-acquired infections is worrisome, though its rate is still low. Control of the spread of this organism in the hospital environment and the general community is an important concern.