title: Molecular characterization of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients in a Public Hospital in Caracas, Venezuela.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing bacteria are amongst the most important causative agents of nosocomial infections worldwide. Isolates of this bacterium have been identified in Venezuela but little is known about their local spread. The aim of this study was to perform the molecular characterization of KPC-producing strains isolated from 2012 to 2013 in a public hospital in Caracas, Venezuela.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two K. pneumoniae clinical isolates phenotypically classified as KPC producing were subjected to PCR screening for the presence of blaKPCgenes and their location within transposon Tn4401. The blaKPCPCR product was sequenced to identify the KPC alleles. Genotypic analysis was performed by means of repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) and Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). Finally, conjugation and electroporation assays were used to determine whether the blaKPCgenes were found in plasmids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All isolates contained the blaKPC-2variant, and 21 of the 22 were associated with the Tn4401b isoform. The strains were distributed in 8 sequence types (ST), three of which were new. Conjugation and electroporation assays indicated that 95.5% (n=21/22) of the isolates contained the blaKPCgene in plasmids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study on circulating bacterial strains and the identification of KPC alleles may help to understand the routes of dissemination and control their spread within this hospital.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santiago de Cali, Cali 760040, Colombia; Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Km. 11, Carretera Panamericana, Caracas 1020A, Venezuela. Electronic address: aura.falco00@usc.edu.co.
authors.forename: Aura Dayana
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Falco Restrepo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Km. 11, Carretera Panamericana, Caracas 1020A, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Mariel Alexandra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Velásquez Nieves
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Km. 11, Carretera Panamericana, Caracas 1020A, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takiff
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014687:Venezuela; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase
keywords: Carbapenemes; Carbapenems; KPC; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Resistance; Resistencia