Energy-dependent accumulation of norfloxacin and porin expression in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and relationship to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production

The relationships between porin deficiency, active efflux of fluoroquinolones, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production were determined for 53 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Thirty-two ESBL-positive strains (including 22 strains expressing porins and 10 strains lacking porins) and 21 ESBL-negative strains were evaluated. Active efflux of norfloxacin was defined as a >/=50% increase in the accumulation of norfloxacin in the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) in comparison with the corresponding basal value in the absence of CCCP. The quinolone resistance-determining regions of both gyrA and parC from 13 strains, representing all isolates with different porin profiles and with or without active efflux, were determined. Porin loss was significantly more common among ESBL-positive strains (10 of 32 [31.2%]) than among ESBL-negative strains (0 of 2 [0%]) (P < 0.01). Active efflux was observed in 7 of 10 (70%) strains lacking porins and in 4 of 43 (9.3%) strains producing porins (P < 0.001). The 11 strains showing active efflux corresponded to 3 of 21 (14.3%) ESBL-negative strains and 8 of 32 (25.5%) ESBL-positive strains (P > 0.05). Basal values of norfloxacin accumulation were higher in strains lacking active efflux than in those that had this mechanism (P < 0.05). In the absence of topoisomerase changes, the contribution of either porin loss or active efflux to fluoroquinolone resistance in K. pneumoniae was negligible. It is concluded that among K. pneumoniae strains of clinical origin, porin loss was observed only in those producing ESBL, and that a significant number of porin-deficient strains also expressed active efflux of norfloxacin. In terms of fluoroquinolone resistance, both mechanisms are significant only in the presence of topoisomerase modifications.     

SHV-1 beta-lactamase is mainly a chromosomally encoded species-specific enzyme in Klebsiella pneumoniae

The nature of the SHV-1 beta-lactamase gene was analyzed in 97 epidemiologically unrelated Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical samples. beta-Lactamase bands that focused at a pI of 7.6 (SHV-1-type) in 74 strains, at a pI of 7.1 (LEN-1-type) in 13 strains, and at a pI of 5.4 (TEM-1-type) in 10 strains were detected by analytical isoelectric focusing (IEF). Among the 74 SHV-1-producing strains, 40 had, in addition to the pI 7.6 band, an additional band on IEF: 20 had a band with a pI of 7.1 and 20 had a band with a pI of 5.4. Most of the 74 SHV-1-producing strains (76.7%) carried plasmids. Transfer of beta-lactam resistance by conjugation was possible in only 9.3% of the strains tested. SHV-1 gene-specific PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the chromosomal DNA was positive for 93 of the 97 strains and negative for only 4 of the 10 samples with K. pneumoniae TEM-1 producers. In an attempt to approximate the location of the SHV gene locus by endonuclease restriction analysis, RFLP analysis with Southern blotting of chromosomal DNA with a labeled SHV-1 fragment as a probe was used to study the 97 strains. A trial with EcoRI showed at least one positive hybridization band for 96 strains; two bands were detected for 8 strains. The hybridization was negative for only one TEM-1 beta-lactamase-producing strain. DNA sequence analysis showed no differences in promoter regions or extra stop-triplet sequences; only point mutations determined different allelic variants. The novel SHV-type variants are designated SHV-32 and SHV-33. As a result of the RFLP and sequencing analyses, it can be postulated that the loci for SHV-1 and LEN-1 genes are arranged in tandem. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that the ancestor of the SHV-1 beta-lactamase originated from the K. pneumoniae chromosome.     

Detection of antimicrobial resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from infected neonates

The present study was designed to determine the antimicrobial resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) activities of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from the neonatal intensive care unit of Atatürk University Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey. Antibiotic susceptibility of 40 isolates was detected by the standard disk diffusion method according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards Guidelines. The double-disk synergy method was used to determine ESBL activity, which is associated with resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Twenty-four (60%) of 40 K. pneumoniae strains were found to produce ESBL. Of the antibiotics tested, meropenem was found to be the most effective (100%), and ampicillin the least effective (0%). With the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance, which poses a clinically significant risk to vulnerable patients, it is important that clinical microbiology laboratories have accurate and timely information concerning the strains of bacteria present to enable them to predict which antibiotics are likely to be effective in treating the infections they may cause.     

First identification of an SHV-12 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated in Italy

A clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae highly resistant to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, cephamycins and aminoglycosides, was isolated in 1991 from urine. Analysis of a crude extract showed the presence of three beta-lactamases with isoelectric points of 6.6, 7.5 and 8.2. The enzyme with pI 8.2 was transferred by conjugation into Escherichia coli K-12 J53 and was responsible for the resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and monobactams, but not to other antibiotics. Kinetic studies of partially purified beta-lactamase from the transconjugant strain confirmed that the enzyme was able to hydrolyse ceftazidime, cefotaxime and aztreonam but not cephamycins. Analysis of the transconjugant showed the presence of two small non-conjugative plasmids of 14 and 6 kb. A polymerase chain reaction was performed using primers specific for the bla(SHV) gene and a fragment of the expected size (about 961 bp) was obtained with both the K. pneumoniae clinical isolate and the transconjugant. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the fragment showed that it encoded the enzyme SHV-12, derived from SHV-5 (with Gln-35 to Leu). This is the first report of an SHV-12-like enzyme isolated in Italy.     

Imipenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with the combination of ACT-1, a plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase, and the foss of an outer membrane protein.

Six Escherichia coli and 12 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a single hospital expressed a common beta-lactamase with a pI of approximately 9.0 and were resistant to cefoxitin and cefotetan (MIC ranges, 64 to > 128 and 16 to > 128 micrograms/ml, respectively). Seventeen of the 18 strains produced multiple beta-lactamases. Most significantly, three K. pneumoniae strains were also resistant to imipenem (MICs, 8 to 32 micrograms/ml). Spectrophotometric beta-lactamase assays with purified enzyme indicated hydrolysis of cephamycins, in addition to cephaloridine and benzylpenicillin. The 4ene encoding the pI 9.0 beta-lactamase (designated ACT-1 for AmpC type) was cloned and sequenced, which revealed an ampC-type beta-lactamase gene that originated from Enterobacter cloacae and that had 86% sequence homology to the P99 beta-lactamase and 94% homology to the partial sequence of MIR-1. Southern blotting revealed that the gene encoding ACT-1 was on a large plasmid in some of the K. pneumoniae strains as well as on the chromosomes of all of the strains, suggesting that the gene is located on an easily mobilized element. Outer membrane protein profiles of the K. pneumoniae strains revealed that the three imipenem-resistant strains were lacking a major outer membrane protein of approximately 42 kDa which was present in the imipenem-susceptible strains. ACT-1 is the first plasmid-mediated AmpC-type beta-lactamase derived from Enterobacter which has been completely sequenced. This work demonstrates that in addition to resistance to cephamycins, imipenem resistance can occur in K. pneumoniae when a high level of the ACT-1 beta-lactamase is produced in combination with the loss of a major outer membrane protein.     

Cefepime and the inoculum effect in tests with Klebsiella pneumoniae producing plasmid-mediated AmpC-type beta-lactamase

OBJECTIVE: In the past decade, a new problem in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains has emerged: plasmid-mediated AmpC enzymes. This study was conducted to investigate the activity of cefepime against clinical isolates by determining the activities of cefepime and three other parenteral beta-lactam agents in standard and high inoculum MIC tests. METHODS: A total of 61 K. pneumoniae blood isolates, including 28 isolates producing AmpC-type beta-lactamases (14 isolates of DHA-1 and 14 isolates of CMY-1-like) and 33 isolates producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) (32 isolates of TEM- or SHV-related and one isolate of CTX-M-14-like), were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using broth microdilution MIC tests with standard and 100-fold-higher inocula. The inoculum effect was defined as an eight-fold or greater MIC increase on testing with the higher inoculum. RESULTS: In tests with AmpC beta-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates and their transconjugants, the inoculum effect was most consistently detected with cefepime, cefotaxime and ceftazidime, as inoculum effects were consistently detected in ESBL-producing isolates. However, the inoculum effect was least frequently detected with imipenem. CONCLUSION: Although the inoculum effect is an in vitro laboratory phenomenon, these results suggest that cefepime may be a less than reliable agent for therapy in cases of high inoculum infections caused by AmpC beta-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae.     

肺炎克雷伯菌产超广谱β-内酰胺酶的检测及耐药性分析

目的监测肺炎克雷伯菌超广谱β—内酰胺酶(extended spectrum B-lactamases,ESBLs)的产生及其对常用抗生索的耐药性。方法对我院2003年1月~2004年12月所分离的482株肺炎克雷伯菌,采用法国梅力埃自动细菌鉴定及药敏测试仪进行检测。结果肺炎克雷伯菌产ESBLs率山2003年的28.9%上升到2004年的40.1%,差别有显著性(P<0.05)。产ESBLs株耐药性显著高于非产ESBLs株;β—内酰胺酶抑制剂复合物头孢哌酮/他唑巴坦、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、第四代头孢菌素头孢吡肟和碳青酶烯类(亚胺培南和美罗培南)对产ESBLs菌株有较好敏感性,亚胺培南和美罗培南仍然为最有效抗尘素。结论近年来肺炎克雷伯菌产ESBLs率显著升高:亚胺培南和美罗培南仍然为最有效抗牛素;应该采取有效措施控制产ES-BLs肺炎克雷伯菌感染。     

Genetic and biochemical characterization of GES-5, an extended-spectrum class A beta-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumoniae

The present study was conducted to characterize a new class 1 integron containing the blaGES-5 gene cassette in Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate CHAK36 and measure the kinetic parameters of GES-5 beta-lactamase. Long-range polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and sequence analysis were performed to identify and analyze the blaGES-5 gene cassette-containing integrons. Kinetic parameters were determined from purified GES-5. Sequencing of the 6190-bp PCR amplicon from K. pneumoniae CHAK36 isolate revealed the new structure of class 1 integron. The integron has 3 unique gene cassettes (blaGES-5-aac(6')-IIa-blaOXA-17/orf4), but the 59-base element of the blaOXA-17 gene cassette was interrupted by a putative transposase gene, orf4. The kinetic parameters of GES-5 showed its broad-spectrum activity against most beta-lactams, including benzylpenicillin, cefaloridine, cefotaxime, and imipenem. This work shows that the blaGES-5 gene was located on a new class 1 integron as a gene cassette. Our kinetic characterizations show that GES-5 was more active against impenem than GES-2 and GES-4.     

Diversity and evolution of the class A chromosomal beta-lactamase gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae

We investigated the diversity of the chromosomal class A beta-lactamase gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae in order to study the evolution of the gene. A 789-bp portion was sequenced in a panel of 28 strains, representative of three phylogenetic groups, KpI, KpII, and KpIII, recently identified in K. pneumoniae and of different chromosomal beta-lactamase variants previously identified. Three groups of sequences were found, two of them corresponding to the families SHV (pI 7.6) and LEN (pI 7.1), respectively, and one, more heterogeneous, corresponding to a new family that we named OKP (for other K. pneumoniae beta-lactamase). Levels of susceptibility to ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam and inhibition by clavulanic acid were similar in the three groups. One new SHV variant, seven new LEN variants, and four OKP variants were identified. The OKP variants formed two subgroups based on nucleotide sequences, one with pIs of 7.8 and 8.1 and the other with pIs of 6.5 and 7.0. The nucleotide sequences of the housekeeping genes gyrA, coding for subunit A of gyrase, and mdh, coding for malate dehydrogenase, were also determined. Phylogenetic analysis of the three genes studied revealed parallel evolution, with the SHV, OKP, and LEN beta-lactamase families corresponding to the phylogenetic groups KpI, KpII, and KpIII, respectively. This correspondence was fully confirmed for 34 additional strains in PCR assays specific for the three beta-lactamase families. We estimated the time since divergence of the phylogenetic groups KpI and KpIII at between 6 and 28 million years, confirming the ancient presence of the beta-lactamase gene in the genome of K. pneumoniae.     

肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌AmpC β内酰胺酶的表型检测

目的 比较研究临床实验室对AmpCβ内酰胺酶（AmpC酶）的表型检测方法,了解对头孢西丁不敏感的肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌中产生hmpC酶和超广谱β内酰胺酶（ESBLs）的分布情况。方法 利用加与不加3-氨基苯酚硼酸（APB）的头孢他啶、头孢噻肟和头孢西丁纸片进行APB纸片增强试验检测肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌的AmpC酶,并与Tris-EDTA纸片试验检测AmpC酶的结果进行比较。用CLSI纸片确认实验检测肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌产生的ESBLs。结果 APB纸片增强试验与Tris-EDTA纸片法检测结果完全一致。对头孢西丁不敏感的62株肺炎克雷伯菌和74株大肠埃希菌中,分别检测到产AmpC酶41株（66．1％）和33株（45．0％）。AmpC酶和ESBLs同时存在的肺炎克雷伯菌占51．6％,单产AmpC酶和单产ESBLs的肺炎克雷伯菌分别为14．5％和21．0％;而大肠埃希菌则以单产ESBLs为主,占40．5％,单产AmpC酶及同时产生AmpC酶与ESBLs的分别占20．3％和24．3％。结论 APB纸片增强试验和Tris-EDTA纸片试验操作简单,应用方便,成本低廉,均可用于临床实验室检测产AmpC酶的肺炎克雷伯菌和大肠埃希菌。     

Typing of SHV extended-spectrum beta-lactamases by pyrosequencing in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains with chromosomal SHV beta-lactamase

In Klebsiella pneumoniae, the cooccurrence of chromosomal and plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases can hinder their accurate molecular detection. We developed a fast and reliable method that allows the typing of isolates carrying more than one SHV gene. The method is based on pyrosequencing the DNA sequence corresponding to amino acid positions 35, 238, and 240.     

Failure of ceftazidime-amikacin therapy for bacteremia and meningitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase.

A multiple trauma patient failed treatment with ceftazidime and amikacin for bacteremia and meningitis due to a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain that produced a novel, plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase. Both pre- and posttreatment isolates were resistant to ceftazidime (MIC, greater than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml) and various penicillins but not to other expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. The beta-lactamase had a pI of 5.25 and was encoded on a conjugal plasmid of approximately 150 kilobases. DNA hybridization studies indicated that the enzyme was a TEM derivative.     

First outbreak of a plasmid-mediated carbapenem-hydrolyzing OXA-48 beta-lactamase in Klebsiella pneumoniae in Spain

Twenty Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates producing OXA-48 were collected from April 2009 to September 2010. Strains were clonally related and coproduced a CTX-M-15 β-lactamase. A conjugative plasmid of circa 70 kb carrying bla(OXA-48) was identified. Eleven isolates showed low-level resistance to carbapenems, whereas nine showed high-level resistance. Decreased expression of OmpK36 was related to high-level resistance to carbapenems. The isolates belonged to sequence type 101 (ST101). This is the first outbreak caused by an OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae strain in Spain.     

SHV-49, a novel inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamase in a clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae

A clinical strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae carried the bla(SHV-49) gene, encoding a novel inhibitor-resistant beta-lactamase of pI 7.6, derived from SHV-1 by the single substitution M69I. It also harbored a gene differing from bla(SHV-11) by four silent mutations and coding for a penicillinase. Both genes were chromosome located and might represent either a species-specific gene or an acquired resistance gene.