Molecular Profiling of Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates fromDhi Qar Hospitals

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a clinically significant pathogen responsible for a wide range of hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to investigate its molecular characteristics and genotype distribution in patient samples from Dhi Qar, Iraq. A total of 386 clinical samples were collected from hospitals in Dhi Qar, Iraq, from patients aged 10–60 years between July and September 2022. Among these, 69 samples were identified as Klebsiella spp. using the API 20E and VITEK 2 systems. DNA concentrations of the isolates ranged from 47.4 to 123.8 ng/µL. All 48 suspected K. pneumoniae isolates underwent molecular identification by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene. The results of this study indicate that the magA and k2A genotypes may serve as reliable biomarkers for identifying the K1 and K2 serogroups of K. pneumoniae. For diagnosing the K1 serotype, PCR amplification of the magA gene using the primer sets magA-F and magA-R was sufficient. Among the 48 K. pneumoniae isolates, 29 (60.4%) tested positive for the magA gene. Overall, the findings demonstrate the effectiveness of PCR-based detection of the magA and k2A genes in identifying K. pneumoniae serogroups. These molecular markers can improve diagnostic accuracy and enhance understanding of infection pathways in clinical settings.