Phenotypic and Genotypic Detection of Biofilm Formation of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Clinical Isolates

Background: This study aimed to investigate the biofilm formation ability of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Additionally, the association of biofilm formation with antibiotic resistance and the presence of biofilm-related genes was investigated. Materials & Methods: In this research, a total of 52 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae were collected from educational hospitals affiliated with Babol University of Medical Sciences from March to October 2023. K. pneumoniae isolates were identified through standard microbiological and biochemical tests. Disk diffusion, microtiter plate, and polymerase chain reaction assays were also performed to evaluate the biofilm formation ability of these isolates. Findings: K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained from various clinical specimens. The isolates showed the highest resistance to ceftazidime (54%) and the lowest resistance to amikacin (17%). More than 48% of the isolates were multidrug resistant. Of the 52 K. pneumoniae isolates, 43 (82.69%) isolates produced biofilm, whereas the remaining nine (17.3%) did not. K. pneumoniae isolates harbored biofilm formation genes, including treC (78.84%), wcaG (71.15%), mrkD (65.38%), mrkA (63.46%), iutA (40.38%), and magA (15.38%). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that K. pneumoniae isolates are highly pathogenic because of antibiotic resistance and carrying biofilm genes. Given the biofilm formation propensity of these strains, it is imperative to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae. Developing strategies to inhibit this process is paramount in the effective management of infections caused by this pathogen.