PLoS ONE (Jan 2015)

Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Romania: A Six-Month Survey.

  • Brandusa Elena Lixandru,
  • Ani Ioana Cotar,
  • Monica Straut,
  • Codruta Romanita Usein,
  • Dana Cristea,
  • Simona Ciontea,
  • Dorina Tatu-Chitoiu,
  • Irina Codita,
  • Alexandru Rafila,
  • Maria Nica,
  • Mariana Buzea,
  • Anda Baicus,
  • Mihaela Camelia Ghita,
  • Irina Nistor,
  • Cristina Tuchiluş,
  • Marina Indreas,
  • Felicia Antohe,
  • Corinna Glasner,
  • Hajo Grundmann,
  • Aftab Jasir,
  • Maria Damian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143214
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 11
p. e0143214

Abstract

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This study presents the first characterization of carbapenem-non-susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates by means of a structured six-month survey performed in Romania as part of an Europe-wide investigation. Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates from different anatomical sites were tested for antibiotic susceptibility by phenotypic methods and confirmed by PCR for the presence of four carbapenemase genes. Genome macrorestriction fingerprinting with XbaI was used to analyze the relatedness of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from eight hospitals. Among 75 non-susceptible isolates, 65 were carbapenemase producers. The most frequently identified genotype was OXA-48 (n = 51 isolates), eight isolates were positive for blaNDM-1 gene, four had the blaKPC-2 gene, whereas two were positive for blaVIM-1. The analysis of PFGE profiles of OXA-48 and NDM-1 producing K. pneumoniae suggests inter-hospitals and regional transmission of epidemic clones. This study presents the first description of K. pneumoniae strains harbouring blaKPC-2 and blaVIM-1 genes in Romania. The results of this study highlight the urgent need for the strengthening of hospital infection control measures in Romania in order to curb the further spread of the antibiotic resistance.