The abundance of capsule (wabG) and fimbria (fimH) coding genes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from patients admitted to Isfahan hospitals

Infection by carbapenem-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae is a life threating problem in hospitals. Capsule and fimbriae are known as important virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of two genes coding capsule (wabG) and fimbriae (fimH) in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from patients hospitalized in Isfahan, Iran. The susceptibility of the isolates to carbapenem was evaluated by disk diffusion. Definitive confirmation of carbapenem resistant isolates was done through 16S-23S ITS gene; and finally, carbapenem resistant (OXA48), capsule (wabG), and fimbriae (fimH) genes were traced in the isolates. The data were analyzed using independent parametric T test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Out of 102 clinical isolates, 50 isolates (49%) were carbapenem resistant and 52 isolates (51%) were sensitive to carbapenem. The most carbapenem-resistant isolates were isolated from the ICU (42%) and emergency departments (22%). All carbapenem resistant isolates had OXA48 gene. Out of 50 isolates with carbapenem resistance gene, 48 isolates (96%) had fimH gene and 47 isolates (94%) had wabG gene. Most carbapenem resistant isolates with fimH were from men (31 isolates), and from respiratory trachea (31%) and urine (27%). Most carbapenem resistant isolates with wabG were from men (29 isolates), and from respiratory trachea (28%) and urine (30%). High frequency of carbapenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate and the high frequencies (more than 90%) of fimH and wabG genes which is higher than many previous reports is significant and should be considered in diagnostic and treatment protocols.