Identification, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Clinical Significance of Klebsiella variicola Strains

Klebsiella variicola strains are Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that usually cause bloodstream, urinary and respiratory tract infections. The aim of the study was to identify K. variicola strains, evaluate the susceptibility of strains to selected antimicrobials, and detect their resistance mechanisms to β-lactams. Strain identification was performed using the mass spectrometry method. DNA sequencing was performed for selected strains. Susceptibility to selected antimicrobials was assessed using an automated method. The presence of an antimicrobial resistance mechanism and genes encoding ESβL was determined using the double-disc synergy test and genotypic methods. Most of the 108 analyzed strains were susceptible to imipenem (99.1%), meropenem (96.3%) and amikacin (96.3%). Over 12% of strains produced ESβL and were multidrug-resistant. Although K. variicola strains remain susceptible to antibiotics, there is a constant need to monitor their susceptibility to selected antimicrobials. The isolation of multidrug-resistant K. variicola strains underscores the critical importance of accurate species identification. This species may be clinically significant, as certain strains can al