Chromosomal and plasmid encoded drug resistances of a Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI 2 strain isolated from urine of a post-operative patient

The multi drug resistance Klebsiella pneumoniae in urinary tract infection is a common clinical problem in developing country like India. Use of random antibiotics, resulting multi drug resistance development, creates difficulties for treatment. In our present study, we investigated a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae UTI 2 with multiple drug resistance, which was isolated from urine of a post operative woman patient (50 years) suffering from urinary tract infection with high fever. This strain is resistant to 36 antibiotics and sensitive to cefotaxime (Ce) and imipenem (I). After curing of plasmids, we observed that, 55% of drug resistant loci of K. pneumoniae UTI 2 are chromosomal and 40% are plasmid encoded. The organism is sensitive to 5% of drugs tested, i.e. Ce and I. This study contributes to understand the drug resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which will enable better clinical management of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, a major health problem.