Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major opportunistic pathogen involved in hospital-acquired infections. The emergence of carbapenemase-producing strains severely compromises the effectiveness of last-resort antibiotics.

Purpose: To evaluate the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of carbapenem resistance among clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae recovered in Oran.

Methods: A total of 58 clinical carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were investigated. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for carbapenems and colistin, and molecular detection of carbapenemase-encoding genes by PCR were performed.

Results: A high level of resistance to most β-lactams and other antibiotic classes was observed. Carbapenem MIC values were markedly elevated, indicating a high level of resistance. The bla_NDM-1 gene was predominant (82.75%), followed by OXA-48, IMP, and KPC at lower frequencies. Colistin resistance was detected in 8.62% of isolates.

Conclusion: The widespread dissemination of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae in Oran represents a major public health threat and highlights the urgent need to strengthen surveillance systems and infection control strategies.

Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae; Carbapenemase; NDM-1; Antimicrobial resistance; Algeria

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Radia DALI YAHIA

Faculté de Médecine de l'Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella. B.P 1510 El M'Naouer 31000 (sis au rond point Haï Sabah - Terminus Tramway - USTO), Oran, Algeria

ORCID: 0000-0002-6112-095X.