Comparison of Carbapenemases and Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases and Resistance Phenotypes in Hospital- and Community-Acquired Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Croatia

<i>K. pneumoniae</i> harbors various antibiotic resistance determinants like extended-spectrum and plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases and carbapenemases. In the last three years, in the period of intense population aging, migrations and climate changes in Europe and Croatia as well, we observed changes in antibiotic resistance patters of carbapenem-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> (CRKP) isolates obtained routinely in community and inpatient setting. The aim was to compare and subsequently analyze CRKP hospital and community isolates resistance mechanisms, traits and molecular epidemiology, in order to analyze the dynamic of resistance trends, carbapenemase types and plasmid epidemiology. Disk diffusion and broth dilution method were the methods of choice to determine antibiotic susceptibility. β-lactamases were screened by phenotypic methods and confirmed with PCR. In total 113 isolates were analysed. Resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate and ertapenem was confirmed in all strains. High resistance rates (over 90%) were observed for extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and ciprofloxacin. OKNV (OXA-48, KPC, NDM, VIM) testing and PCR detected OXA-48 in 106, NDM in 7 and KPC in only one isolate. ESBLs accompanied carbapenemases in 103 isolates. IncL, associated with OXA-48, was the dominant plasmid type. No significant differences in the resistance profile and resistance determinants were found between hospital and community isolates plasmid type. The predominance of OXA-48 carbapenemase is in line with the reports from the neigbouring countries.