Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt

<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is a nosocomial pathogen with high morbidity and mortality rates in hospitalized patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> has become more challenging to treat, with the prevalence of colistin-resistance. Therefore, relia...

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Main Authors: Rania Abozahra, Amal Gaballah, Sarah M. Abdelhamid
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2023-03-01
Series:AIMS Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/microbiol.2023011?viewType=HTML
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author Rania Abozahra
Amal Gaballah
Sarah M. Abdelhamid
author_facet Rania Abozahra
Amal Gaballah
Sarah M. Abdelhamid
author_sort Rania Abozahra
collection DOAJ
description <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is a nosocomial pathogen with high morbidity and mortality rates in hospitalized patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> has become more challenging to treat, with the prevalence of colistin-resistance. Therefore, reliable methods for detecting colistin resistance are required. Many plants' essential oils have antimicrobial activity and have been used to combat multiple antibiotic resistances. This study aimed to investigate the characterization and prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>mcr-1</i> in <i>K. pneumoniae</i> in Egypt, evaluate rapid polymyxin NP test, determine the transferability of <i>mcr-1</i> gene, and study the synergistic activity of eugenol combined with colistin against <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. Eighty-two <i>K. pneumonia</i> isolates were collected from different human samples, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing, rapid polymyxin NP test, and detection of the <i>mcr-1</i> gene and its transfer frequency. Determination of the MICs of colistin alone and in combination with eugenol was performed, then <i>mcr-1</i> gene expression was determined in the presence of eugenol. Thirty-two isolates (39%) were colistin-resistant. Rapid polymyxin NP test failed to detect resistant isolates with MICs below 32 µg/mL. Detection of <i>mcr-1</i> gene was made in 27 (84%) of colistin resistant isolates. The rest isolates possess alteration in the <i>mgrB</i> gene which probably causes colistin resistance. The <i>mcr-1</i> gene was transferred by conjugation to other sensitive isolates. MIC of eugenol ranged from 416 to 1664 µg/mL, and FICI ranged from 0.265 to 0.75. Results also revealed suppression of <i>mcr-1</i> gene expression in the presence of sub MIC of eugenol. Our results demonstrated a high prevalence of <i>mcr-1</i> in Egypt and its ability to transfer to other strains. Difficult determination of colistin-resistant isolates with low values with rapid polymyxin NP test was apparent. Eugenol exerted a synergistic effect with colistin and improved its antimicrobial activity.
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spelling doaj.art-df12a8aab3bd45dba987f77fcadeb23a2023-04-19T01:27:55ZengAIMS PressAIMS Microbiology2471-18882023-03-019217719410.3934/microbiol.2023011Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in EgyptRania Abozahra 0Amal Gaballah 1Sarah M. Abdelhamid2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, EgyptDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, EgyptDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt<i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is a nosocomial pathogen with high morbidity and mortality rates in hospitalized patients. The emergence of multidrug-resistant <i>K. pneumoniae</i> has become more challenging to treat, with the prevalence of colistin-resistance. Therefore, reliable methods for detecting colistin resistance are required. Many plants' essential oils have antimicrobial activity and have been used to combat multiple antibiotic resistances. This study aimed to investigate the characterization and prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>mcr-1</i> in <i>K. pneumoniae</i> in Egypt, evaluate rapid polymyxin NP test, determine the transferability of <i>mcr-1</i> gene, and study the synergistic activity of eugenol combined with colistin against <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. Eighty-two <i>K. pneumonia</i> isolates were collected from different human samples, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing, rapid polymyxin NP test, and detection of the <i>mcr-1</i> gene and its transfer frequency. Determination of the MICs of colistin alone and in combination with eugenol was performed, then <i>mcr-1</i> gene expression was determined in the presence of eugenol. Thirty-two isolates (39%) were colistin-resistant. Rapid polymyxin NP test failed to detect resistant isolates with MICs below 32 µg/mL. Detection of <i>mcr-1</i> gene was made in 27 (84%) of colistin resistant isolates. The rest isolates possess alteration in the <i>mgrB</i> gene which probably causes colistin resistance. The <i>mcr-1</i> gene was transferred by conjugation to other sensitive isolates. MIC of eugenol ranged from 416 to 1664 µg/mL, and FICI ranged from 0.265 to 0.75. Results also revealed suppression of <i>mcr-1</i> gene expression in the presence of sub MIC of eugenol. Our results demonstrated a high prevalence of <i>mcr-1</i> in Egypt and its ability to transfer to other strains. Difficult determination of colistin-resistant isolates with low values with rapid polymyxin NP test was apparent. Eugenol exerted a synergistic effect with colistin and improved its antimicrobial activity.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/microbiol.2023011?viewType=HTMLklebsiella pneumoniaecolistin resistancemcr-1 generapid polymyxin np testtransferabilityeugenol
spellingShingle Rania Abozahra
Amal Gaballah
Sarah M. Abdelhamid
Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
AIMS Microbiology
klebsiella pneumoniae
colistin resistance
mcr-1 gene
rapid polymyxin np test
transferability
eugenol
title Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
title_full Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
title_fullStr Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
title_short Prevalence of the colistin resistance gene <i>MCR-1</i> in colistin-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Egypt
title_sort prevalence of the colistin resistance gene i mcr 1 i in colistin resistant i klebsiella pneumoniae i in egypt
topic klebsiella pneumoniae
colistin resistance
mcr-1 gene
rapid polymyxin np test
transferability
eugenol
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/microbiol.2023011?viewType=HTML
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AT sarahmabdelhamid prevalenceofthecolistinresistancegeneimcr1iincolistinresistantiklebsiellapneumoniaeiinegypt