Investigating the Frequency of Genotypic and Phenotypic Resistance to Plasmid-Mediated Ciprofloxacin in Clinical Isolates of <i>Klebsiella</i><i>pneumoniae</i> in Ardabil

Background: A total of 186 Klebsiellapneumoniae isolates collected from clinical samples were included in this study to investigate plasmid-mediated resistance to ciprofloxacin. Objectives: Additionally, the frequency of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes, including qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, qnrS, oqxA, and oqxB, was examined. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin was determined using the agar dilution method. The presence of PMQR genes was identified using a PCR assay. Results: Among the 186 K. pneumoniae clinical isolates, 51.61% (n = 96) were resistant, 11.29% (n = 21) exhibited intermediate resistance, and 37.09% (n = 69) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The prevalence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, qnrS, oqxA, and oqxB genes in K.pneumoniae clinical isolates was 33.33% (n = 39), 78.63% (n = 92), 0% (n = 0), 0% (n = 0), 82.05% (n = 96), 76.06% (n = 89), and 75.21% (n = 88), respectively. Conclusions: This study found a significant association between ciprofloxacin resistance in K.pneumoniae and the presence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, oqxA, and oqxB genes.