Evaluation of antibiotic resistance associated with ophthalmic oqxAB pumps in Klebsiella pneumoniae causing urinary tract infection

Background: The urinary tract infection is the secondary most common human infection. Colon bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumonia, are the main cause of urinary tract infections. The occurrence of the antibiotic resistance is a major problem in the treatment of infections. Beta- lactamases and efflux pumps constitute the major defense mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The aim of present study was to detect oqxA and oqxB genes that encoding oqxAB efflux pumps, in the resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials and methods: Among 430 urine samples gathered from Mofoid and Modares Hospitals and Farabi Tajrish Laboratory, 100 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae has been isolated. Antibiotic sensitivity tests have been accomplished by disc diffusion method based on CLSI standard. The ESBL strains have been identified by Roscoe's compound discs. Finally, the presences of oqxAB efflux pumps have been detected by PCR method through finding the genes encoding these pumps. Results: Among 100 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, 43% were ESBL positive. Imipenem, piperacillin tazobactam and morphenem were identified more effective than other antibiotics. The prevalence of oqxA and oqxB genes among resistant isolates was 69.76% and 72.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Regarding our findings, the urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae were more prevalent in hospitalized patients. As well as, it was shown a higher percentage of resistance in compare with strains isolated from outpatients. Since the high resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains is very worrying, antibiotics prescribing especially carbapenems need to be strongly supervised. Keywords: Klebsiella pneumonia, Antibiotic resistance, Efflux pump, Urinary tract infection.