Bacteriological characteristics of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae rmpA gene (hvKp- rmpA )-harboring strains in the south of Iran

To provide data on the occurrence of classical (cKp) and hypervirulent (hvKp) strains harboring the gene encoding regulator of mucoid phenotype A ( ) and evaluated characteristics of virulence biomarkers, carbapenemase, extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, and capsule serotypes among clinical isolates collected in the south of Iran. A total of 400 isolates were collected. First, the isolates were screened for gene by PCR, and then they were characterized for the presence of the virulence genes ( ), capsular serotype genes (K1, K2, K5, K20, K54, and K57), carbapenemase ( , , , , , , and ) and ESBL ( , and ) genes. For all isolates phenotypic tests include of string test and disk diffusion test were performed. In total, 16 (4%) hvKp- + and 384 (96%) cKp were observed. Of hvKp- + strains, 16 (100%) were carried , and genes, and 13 (81.3%) strains harbored gene. The most prevalent capsular type genes were K1 (62%) and K2 (19%) in hvKp- + strains. The incidence of gene in hvKp and cKp was 94% (15/16) and 87.5% (336/384), respectively. The cKp isolates carried (30/384; 7.8%) gene. Our data suggest that the incidence of hvKp was low. Also, hvKp- + strains have less antibiotic resistance than cKp isolates. Serotypes K1 and K2, and gene were strongly associated with hvKp- +.