Microbiological and Molecular Study of K1, K2 Genes among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Urine Specimens in Duhok city, Iraq

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common cause of infections, particularly urinary tract infections (UTIs). Urine samples were taken from 800 patients with clinical indications of UTI who visited the inpatient and outpatient clinics from governorate hospitals and private clinics, namely, Azadi Teaching hospital, Duhok Emergency hospital, Heevi Pediatrics Teaching hospital and Vajeen Private hospital in Duhok city. Standard bacteriological methods were used to identify isolated colonies from urine samples cultured on bacterial media.  A species-specific PCR assay was used to identify K. pneumoneae isolates at molecular level PCR assays and capsular type counting of the K1 and K2 genes were detected among 50 K. pneumoniae isolates. The furthermost predominant genes amongst all isolates were K1 gene (12%) followed by K2 gene (8%). This study emphasized on K. pneumoniae as sources of UTIs that displayed to harboring K1 and K2 genes. The goal of this work was to investigate the mucoviscosity of K.  pneumoniae isolated from a urinary tract infection and to screen for certain virulence factor genes such as K1 and K2 genes.