Molecular and Phenotypic Detection of Carbapenemase-Encoding Genes among Bacterial Isolates from Various Clinical Infections

Abstract

       This study was conducted to perform phenotypic and molecular detection of carbapenems-producing bacteria isolated from various infections. A total of 140 clinical samples were collected from patients of both sexes and various ages. The samples were collected from various hospitals in Salah al-Din Governorate, during the period from August 4, 2025, to December 10, 2025. The results showed that 103 samples (73.6%) exhibited bacterial growth on different culture media. The infection rates by sample type were as follows: urine, with 40 samples (28.6%); respiratory tract 6 samples (4.3%); blood, 3 samples (2.1%); wounds, 8 samples (5.7%); burns, 25 samples (17.9%); stool, 10 samples (7.1%); semen, 10 samples (7.1%); vaginal, 20 samples (14.3%); catheter, 10 samples (7.1%); and bodily fluids, 8 samples (5.7%).     Bacterial isolates were identified by manual methods and Vitek 2 system, and the results revealed 24 types of bacterial species with different rates. , with Escherichia coli being the most prevalent at 27.18%, followed by Staphylococcus aureus at 18.45%. Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 6.80%, while Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus agalactiae each accounted for 4.85%. Other isolates included Acinetobacter baumanii., Citrobacter spp., Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, each at 3.88%, followed by Enterobacter cloacae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, each at 2.91%. Additionally, Burkholderia cepacia, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus pyogenes and Kocuria kristinae, were isolated at 1.94% each. Finally, 10 species were isolated at 0.97% each, including Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea spp., Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus viridans, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus capitis, and Staphylococcus lentus. The results of The distribution of carbapenem-resistant bacteria was as follows: Escherichia coli accounted for 28 isolates, of which 5 (17.9%) were carbapenem-resistant; Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 7 isolates, of which 6 (85.7%) were resistant; Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for 4 isolates, all of which were resistant; Acinetobacter baumannii accounted for 4 isolates, all resistant; and Stenotrophomonas accounted for 4 isolates, all resistant. The results of molecular detection revealed the presence of specific resistance genes in each bacterial species. E. coli harbored the blaOXA-1 gene in 88% of isolates, K. pneumoniae harbored the blaKPC gene in 66.6% of isolates, A. baumanii harbored the blaOXA-48 gene in 50% of isolates, while P. aeruginosa (blaVIM-type) and S. maltophilia (blaL1) did not harbor the gene.