Fighting the Dual
Threat: Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae and Carbapenem Resistance in Diabetics
Karthik A., Vinodhini V.M. and Leela K.V.
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(2); 99-102;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/202rjbt0990102; (2025)
Abstract
The prevalence of diabetes is rising these days as a result of hypervirulent Klebsiella
pneumonia (hvKp), multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carbapenem-resistant bacteria. The
burden of drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia bacteria is due to diabetic infections.
This study was carried out at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology from January
2022 to December 2023 with Human Institutional Ethics Committee approval. All clinical
samples underwent bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing.
The combined disc test for metallo-beta-lactamase producers was carried out using
conventional microbiological methods. The string test was performed to determine
hvKp.
The identification of hvKp and carbapenem-resistant genes was accomplished using
PCR amplification. The most significant number of pathogens (70.2%) isolated from
various clinical samples was around 350. Of the 104 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains
discovered, 47% (n=49) were drug-resistant. Of these, around 32 (30.7%) produced
MBL, 11 had the rmpA-hypervirulent gene positive and 15 had the bla VIM gene positive.
Pathogens had a much greater prevalence of MDR and MBL producers. The results of
this study highlight the necessity of preventive measures against drug-resistant
pathogen colonization and infection.
