Characterization of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae from bloodstream infections in three hospitals in Bucharest, Romania: a preliminary study

Abstract

Background: Our objective was to describe the distribution of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes found in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from hospital-acquired or community-onset bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Bucharest, Romania. Methods: E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, resistant to at least one antimicrobial drug family, were analyzed for genes encoding ESBL by PCR and sequencing. The E. coli isolates were screened by an ST131 clone allele-specific PCR for the pabB gene. Results: ESBL genes were found in 30 (35%) of 85 drug-resistant E. coli and 19 (70%) of 27 drug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Twenty-nine (97%) E. coli carried bla_CTX-M-15. Nineteen (63%) E. coli carrying an ESBL gene belonged to the ST131 clonal group. The bla_CTX-M-15 gene was found in 15 (79%) and bla_SHV-12 in 12 (63%) K. pneumoniae isolates. Conclusion: In Bucharest CTX-M15 was the most frequently encountered ESBL in both E. coli and K. pneumoniae BSI isolates regardless of the setting of infections.

Keywords::

• CTX-M
• SHV
• ST131
• bloodstream infections
• ESBL

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Mihaela Ion, Valentina Petcu, Mona Popoiu, Olga Dorobat, Alexandru Rafila, Maria Nica, and Mariana Buzea for their help in collecting data. We are also grateful to Professor Richard B. Roberts from Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY for his contribution to the revision of this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This work was supported by the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development, financed from the European Social Fund and by the Romanian Government under the contract no. POSDRU/89/1.5/S/64109.