The predominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC-type) gene among high-level carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Baghdad, Iraq.

BACKGROUND: The serine carbapenemase enzymes (KPC) which produce from bacteria klebsiella pneumoniae today have been emerged as one of the ß-lactamase enzymes that is capable to inactivating the last line of carbapenems. The gene encoding the K. pneumonia (blaKPC) belongs to gene carried on plasmid among Enterobacteriaceae family, which has modulation for the infections control so this study is aimed to spot the presence and evaluate blaKPC gene expression by real-time PCR in local isolates of K. pneumonia. METHODS: Forty-seven of K. pneumonia isolates were isolated from different clinical samples (blood, sputum, urine, wounds and burns) from patients in separate hospitals in Baghdad., Antimicrobial sensitivity test was carried out by vitik-2 system and Kirby- Bauer method. The PCR was employed to detect carbapenemase gene. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that all explored isolates were resistant to Ertapenem, Meropenem and imipenem 47(100%). Phenotypically, all the isolates had carbapenemase which hydrolyzed the carbapenem antibiotics. Furthermore, the isolates showed (100%) resistance to Cefazolin, Ampicillin and Amoxicillin/ Clavulic acid. However, the most effective antibiotic was Levofloxacin (91.5%). The results of conventional PCR technique for the detection of blaKPC gene showed that 38 (80.9%) isolates of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae harboured blaKPC gene (1010 bp), while none carried other carbapenemase genes including blaNDM1, blaVIM and blaIMP genes. High levels of carbapenem resistance was clarified by the imipenem and meropenem MICs determination. All 38 isolates were positive in CNPT. Furthermore, the 38 isolates showed over expression of blaKPC gene compared with housekeeping rpo gene in Real-Time PCR. CONCLUSIONS: According to these results, the resistant isolates to carbapenem were belong to the present and high level expression of blaKPC gene in our local isolates.

Distribution of Pantoea agglomerans isolates and molecular detection of blaPER-1 ESßL gene: A statistical study.

THE PURPOSE: to study the distribution of Pantoea agglomerans (P. agglomerans) statistically and the presence of blaPER-1 type ESßL in the clinical and environmental isolates. METHODS: During a period of 2014-2015, 895 blood specimens and 438 hospital environmental samples were collected from one children's hospital in Baghdad city. The results of statistical analysis showed there was no relationship between the infection with P. agglomerans and the sex, while there was a relationship between the infection with the P. agglomerans and the place of residence and also the age of patients. RESULT: A total of 23 P. agglomerans were isolated during the study, out of 23 isolates, 13 (56.52%) and 10 (43.48%) were isolated from blood specimens and from hospital environment. All 23 isolates had 100% sensitivity rate to Imipenem and the highest resistant rate was (95.65%) to Ampicillin. Out of 23 P. agglomerans, 14 (60.87%) isolates were positive ESßL producing by the screening test. CONCLUSION: The result of molecular screening of the gene blaPER-1 showed the presence of this gene only in phenotypically ESBL producing isolates, while all negative ESßL producing isolates don't harboring blaPER-1 gene. Out of 14 positive ESßL producing P. agglomerans isolates, 5 (35.71%) were harboring blaPER-1 gene and 9 (64.29%) of positive ESßL producing isolates were don't harboring blaPER-1 gene (significant difference at ≤0.05).

Chitosanase purified from bacterial isolate Bacillus licheniformis of ruined vegetables displays broad spectrum biofilm inhibition.

A number of bacterial species produces chitosanases which has variety of applications because of its high biodegradability, non-toxicity and antimicrobial assets. In the present study chitosanase is purified from new bacterial species Bacillus licheniformis from spoiled vegetable. This novel strain of Bacillus licheniformis isolated from spoilt cucumber and pepper samples has the ability to produce the chitosanase enzyme when grown on chitosan substrate. Study also examined its antibiofilm properties against diverse bacterial species with biofilm forming ability. The purified chitosanase inhibited the biofilm formation ability for all Gram-negative and Gram-positive biofilm-forming bacteria [biofilm producers] tested in this study in congo red agar and microtiter plate's methods. Highly antibiofilm activity of chitosanase was recorded against Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae with reduction of biofilm formation upto 22 and 29%, respectively compared with [100] % of control. Biofilm formation has multiple role including ability to enhance resistance and self-protection from external stress. This chitosanase has promising benefit as antibiofilm agent against biofilm forming pathogenic bacteria and has promising application as alternative antibiofilm agents to combat the growing number of multidrug resistant pathogen-associated infections, especially in situation where biofilms are involved.