Search

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important pathogenic bacterium, frequently isolated from nosocomial samples, that exhibits wide antimicrobial resistance profiles, including third generation cephalosporins (3GC), aminoglycosides and quinolones. The resistance to 3GC is mainly due to the synthesis of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL), encoded by conjugative plasmids. Aim: To investigate the potential transference of resistance to 3GC from nosocomial strains of K. pneumoniae to other clinical strains of various species of Enterobacteriaceae. Material and methods: The mating experiments were carried out in liquid media and three nosocomial strains of K. pneumoniae were used as donors. These strains were ESBL-producers and resistant to, at least, one of the 3GC assayed. One strain of Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli, isolated from clinical specimens, were used as recipients. The presence of bla genes was investigated by PCR. Results: The three nosocomial strains of K. pneumoniae were able to transfer the resistance to 3GC and the genes encoding the ESBL to the susceptible recipient strains of enterobacteria. The frequency of transference was as high as 3.2 x 10-2 transconjugants/recipient cell when the strain of Citrobacter freundii was used as recipient. All transconjugants exhibited high level of resistance to the 3GC assayed. Conclusions: Strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from Chilean hospitals are able to disseminate the ESBL genes to clinical strains of others species of Enterobacteriaaceae

Background: The resistance of Shigella flexneri to antimicrobial agents can be associated to the presence of integrons that may contain and express antimicrobial resistance gene cassettes. Aim: To study antimicrobial resistance and the presence of integrons and antimicrobial gene cassettes in Shigella flexneri strains. Material and methods: In vitro susceptibility to 27 antimicrobials was studied in twenty four Shigella flexneri strains isolated from stools. The presence of integrons class 1, 2 and 3 and antimicrobial resistance gene cassettes was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for each gene. Results: Most strains were resistant to one of the following antimicrobials: ampicillin, sulphonamide, trimethoprim, tetracycline, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim or chloramphenicol. Twenty nine percent were simultaneously resistant to all these antimicrobials. Integrons class 1 and 2 were found in 19 strains (79%). Class 3 integrons were not found. Gene cassettes dfrA1 and ant(3")I were associated to integrons class 2 in most strains (15/20, 75%). Genes cat, tetB and blarTEM were detected in 18/24 (75%), 7/24 (29%) and 4/24 (17%) of the strains, respectively and were not associated to any of the studied integrons. Genes that codify enzymes AAC(6')Ib and APH(3')VI were not detected in any strain. Conclusions: The high frequency of integrons found in the studied strains, could partly explain the increasing antimicrobial resistance of Shigella flexneri strains, isolated in Chile (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 727-33)