Pathogenic Leap: Molecular Profiling of Emerging Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Diabetics

The rise of multidrug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-hvKp) strains has become a significant concern in healthcare settings globally. This study seeks to understand the current picture of MDR-hvKp infections in diabetic patients, shedding light on the challenges posed by these pathogens and emphasizing the critical need for coordinated efforts in surveillance, prevention and treatment to limit their influence on public health. This study consisted all non-duplicate n=500 different clinical samples from diabetic patients which were received for bacterial culture in the microbiology department during the study period. Determination of antimicrobial susceptibility and drug resistance was performed by conventional and molecular methods. Among Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL positive isolates of K.pneumoniae, 53 isolates showed presence of blaSHV (n = 53, 77.9%), blaTEM (n = 51,75%) and blaCTX-M (n = 42, 61.7%), blaTEM with blaSHV positive for 31 isolates, blaTEM with blaCTX-M positive for 27 isolates and 19 isolates were positive for blaTEM with blaSHV and blaCTX-M. Among 32 MBL positive K.pneumoniae, blaKPC was positive for (n = 32, 47%). BlaVIM + blaIMP (n = 31, 45.5%), blaVIM (n = 28, 41.1%), blaIMP (n = 24, 35.2%) and blaKPC + blaVIM (n = 23, 33.8%) were identified. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is limiting the potential treatment choices for diseases caused by bacteria that have developed resistant to drugs.