Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella spp. strains isolated from drinking and usage water in Rize

In this study, antibiotic resistance of 380 Klebsiella spp. strains isolated from 2167 water samples taken from 784 different stations by Rize Provincial Health Directorate between May 2019 and May 2020 were investigated and the antibiotic resistance genes causing this resistance were investigated. Microdilution method and disk diffusion method were used in the investigation of antibiotic resistance. While the highest antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella spp. strains on which the microdilution method was performed was detected as 100% against Ampicillin, the lowest antibiotic resistance was detected as 0,70% against Meropenem. In Klebsiella spp. strains on which the disk diffusion method was performed, the highest antibiotic resistance was detected as 94,18% against Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, the lowest antibiotic resistance was detected as 8.8% against Imipenem. As a result of the microdilution method and disk diffusion method, 8 resistance genes (blaOXA, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaTEM, blaKPC, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaOXA-48) were examined in 60 strains showing multidrug resistance, and the blaCTX-M gene was detected in only 4 strains (K54-K164-K189B-K343). The reason why antibiotic resistance genes were not observed even in the strains with multidrug resistance in our study is attributed to the fact that they are natural strains of environmental origin. The fact that the resistance gene was found in only four strains is a very positive result in terms of public health.