Insights of β ‐Lactams Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates: A Focus on Molecular Identification of Drug Resistance

Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with high antimicrobial resistance and is commonly isolated from colonization and healthcare‐associated infections (HAIs). This study is aimed at developing and validating molecular assays to detect resistance genes belonging to the bla family in resistant K. pneumoniae isolates. The genes included belong to the subfamilies: bla SHV , bla TEM , bla NDM , bla KPC , bla GES , bla CTX‐M, and relevant variants of the bla OXA subfamily. The identified genotypic profile showed a high prevalence of genes belonging to Ambler′s classes of beta‐lactamases A, B, and D, which was in accordance with the phenotypic results obtained for the isolates investigated. A high prevalence of resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems was observed. In conclusion, the assays developed were efficient in detecting the main resistance genes of the bla family in K. pneumoniae , revealing a concerning regional burden of resistance genes.