M. R Mansor - Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Faculty of Medical Technologies, Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
D Ali Hasan Kashkool - Directorate of Education, Ministry of Education, Najaf, Iraq
S Safaa Abd Al-Ameer - Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Faculty of Medical Technologies, Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
B Akeel Al-Hasan - Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Faculty of Medical Technologies, Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
A. F Almulla - Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Faculty of Medical Technologies, Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative bacterium that causes serious illnesses, including pneumonia, liver abscess, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to isolate and diagnose K. pneumoniae from clinical specimens of urine from patients with UTIs and perform molecular detection of the blaSHV-la gene in K. pneumonia in the Najaf Province, Iraq. The study included ۱۰۰ clinical specimens from October ۲۰۲۱ to March ۲۰۲۲. As an initial diagnosis, K. pneumoniae isolates were diagnosed based on culture and biochemical features. Apart from the usage of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to identify the blaSHV-la gene, the final diagnostic was achieved by the automated Vitek-۲ compact system. The biochemical findings revealed that ۴۰ out of every ۱۰۰ isolates tested positive for K. pneumoniae. These results were validated by Vitek, which revealed that ۴۰/۱۰۰ of the samples tested positive for K. pneumoniae, and by PCR utilizing the blaSHV-la gene, which showed that ۱۳/۴۰ of the samples tested positive for K. pneumoniae isolated from the urine of patients with UTIs. In conclusion, the results indicated that the use of the Vitek-۲ technique was required to confirm the accurate identification of the pathogen. Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates showed multidrug resistance to antibiotics commonly used to treat UTIs. The blaSHV gene encoded for Extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic was found almost in K. pneumoniae isolates.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, blaSHV-la gene, Urinary tract