Colistin resistance in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains at a perinatal maternal institute in Lima, Peru, 2015-2018.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of colistin- and carbapenemic-resistant genes in multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated at the Instituto Materno Perinatal de Lima (2015-2018). Susceptibility levels were analyzed by disk diffusion and microdilution. The presence of colistin- and carbapenemic-resistant genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was related to clonality. A total of 36 K. pneumoniae strains were analyzed, 5 (13.8%) were resistant to colistin and belonged to different clonal groups. Only 2 strains were found with carbapenemases (bla KPC and bla NDM), and no colistin plasmid genes were detected. High resistance levels to the other tested antimicrobials were observed, except for amikacin (13.9%). The results highlight the presence of colistin-resistant strains (33.3% in 2018), a worrying situation as they are part of the latest treatment alternatives for infections caused by multiresistant pathogens.