Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Virulence Gene Profiles of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Isolated from Surgical Site Infections in Iran

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The prevalence of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in surgical site infections (SSIs) has increased recently. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance patterns and biofilm formation capacity of <i>K. pneumoniae</i> strains isolated from SSIs. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 63 <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates were obtained from patients with SSIs. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined using the Kirby-Bauer method. Molecular analyses were performed to confirm the presence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Biofilm formation was determined using a semiquantified microtiter plate assay, and optical density measurements were used to classify the isolates into weak, moderate, and strong biofilm producers. Biofilm structure was observed using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and data were analyzed and presented in terms of frequency and percentage. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The frequencies of <i>fimH</i>, <i>mrkD</i>, <i>mrkA</i>, <i>wcaG</i>, and <i>magA</i> were 98.4%, 96.8%, 77.7%, 61.9%, and 7.9%, respectively. The highest rates of antibiotic resistance were observed for cefazolin, cefuroxime, and piperacillin/tazobactam and 98.4% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic agent. The most prevalent resistance genes were <i>bla</i>_SHV (42.8%), <i>bla</i>_CTX-M (31.7%), <i>bla</i>_TEM (28.5%), and <i>bla</i>_OXA48 (22.2%). All the tested isolates were able to produce biofilms, and 76.2% were classified as strong biofilm producers. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is one of the common pathogens in SSIs, and due to its antibiotic resistance and the presence of multiple virulence factors, proper controlling strategies need to be carried out.