The Relation Between Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Klebsiella Species Isolated from Human, Sheep and Goats at Matrouh Governorate, Egypt.

Klebsiella pneumoniae has gained international attention because of its antibiotic resistance, and limited effective treatment so, the present study was carried out to study the profile of virulence and antibiotic resistance and its relation with biofilm formation in isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae from human (urinary system) and ovine (respiratory system) samples at Matrouh Governorate. A total of 170 samples (90 nasal swabs from ovine, 80 human urine samples) were collected from private farms and general hospital at Matrouh Governorate, Samples were subjected to bacterial isolation and identification using cultural, biochemical, PCR, antibiogram, phenotypic and genotypic detection of biofilm. Out of 170 samples, 57 (33.5%) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were recovered. All 11 (100%) tested isolates were positive for 16s-23SITS gene. All 11 PCR-positive isolates showed resistance to at least four different classes of antibiotics so, they were considered MDR. From five human isolates, only one isolate showed resistance to five different classes of antibiotics, while two isolates showed resistance to seven different classes of antibiotics, and two other isolates showed resistance to six different classes of antibiotics. From six ovine isolates, only two isolates showed resistance to distinct five classes of antibiotics, while four isolates showed resistance to four different classes of antibiotics. Among 11 K. pneumoniae isolates; seven (63.6%) were strong biofilm producers, including 4 (36.36%) from human isolates and 3 (27.27%) from ovine isolates, but 4 (36.36%) isolates were moderate biofilm producers, including one human isolate (9.09%) and 3 (27.27%) ovine isolates. All 11 isolates that exhibited phenotypic biofilm production were positive for fim A and mrk A genes. It was concluded that, there is a direct relation between antibiotic resistance and biofilm production, PCR is one of the most effective methods for identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates.