Investigation of Biofilm Virulence Genes Prevalence in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from the Urinary Tract Infections

Klebsiella pneumonia is a pathogen and an agent that causes hospital-acquired infections. Klebsiella pneumonia is the first and most common causative agent in community-acquired infections and urinary tract diseases. This study aimed to detect common genes, (i.e., fimA, mrkA, and mrkD) in the isolates of K. pneumoniae, isolated from urine specimens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The isolates of K. pneumoniae were collected from urine specimens in health centers in Wasit Governorate, Iraq, and diagnosed using Analytical Profile Index 20Eand 16S rRNA techniques. The microtiter plate (MTP) method was used to detect biofilm formation. A total of 56 isolates were identified as K. pneumonia cases. The results led to the detection of biofilms; accordingly, all K. pneumoniae isolates showed biofilm production by MTP, however, at different levels. The PCR method was employed to detect biofilm genes and showed that 49 (87.5%), 26 (46.4%), and 30 (53.6%) of isolates carried fimH, mrkA, and mrkD, respectively. Furthermore, susceptibility tests for different antibiotics revealed that K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (n=11, 19.5%), ceftazidime (n=13, 22.4%), ofloxacin (n=16, 28.1%), and tobramycin (n=27, 48.4%). It was also found all K. pneumonia isolates were sensitive to polymyxin B (92.6%), imipenem (88.3%), meropenem (79.4%), and amikacin (60.5%).