Investigating the Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on the Expression of Biofilm Production Genes and Antibiotic Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a human opportunistic pathogen. Biofilm formation is one of the important properties of this bacteria that leads to the development of multidrug-resistant phenotypes. In recent years, Nanoparticle Technology (NP) has been an important field in a wide range of studies. In this study, the effects of chemical nanoparticles on biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae were investigated.

Overall, 340 samples from patients were collected from different hospitals in Tehran. Colonies were tested to identify bacteria based on standard techniques. In each bacterium, the presence of important biofilm formation genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected by Multiplex PCR and their expression levels were analyzed using the Real-time PCR method. The effect of chemical nanoparticles of iron oxide on biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance was also investigated.

Sixty isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified based on standard techniques. The results showed that both types of iron oxide nanoparticles had a significant effect on inhibiting the formation of biofilm and antibiotic resistance of this bacterium (p <0.001). In addition, the combination of iron oxide nanoparticles and ciprofloxacin had significant antimicrobial effects compared to other compounds (p <0.001).

The formation of biofilm and the antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were effectively inhibited in response to iron oxide nanoparticles. The results could be useful in controlling multiple drug-resistant infections in hospitalized patients.