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Impairment of Respiratory Burst in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae

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Abstract

The ability of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and non-ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains to induce a respiratory burst in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) was investigated. Ninety ESBL-producing and 178 non-ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were serotyped and their ability to induce a respiratory burst in PMNLs tested by monitoring the cells’ chemiluminescence (CL) response. The percentage of isolates inducing high levels of CL response (CL>75%) was significantly higher among non-ESBL producers (52%) than among ESBL producers (32.2%) (P<0.0001; OR=3.396; 95%CI=2.036–5.664). The median CL response was significantly higher among the non-ESBL producers (76.9%) than among the ESBL producers (52.6%) (P=0.034). The two groups did not differ in their ability to resist intracellular killing by PMNLs (P>0.05), with strains inducing high levels of CL response having significantly lower survival rates (31.8% vs. 42.4%) than strains inducing low levels of CL response (164% vs. 200%) (P<0.01). The frequencies of the K2 and the K25 serotypes were significantly higher among ESBL-producing strains (17.8% and 22.2%, respectively) than among the non-ESBL producers (6.2% and 1.7%, respectively) (P=0.0057 and P<0.0001). Of the 77 Klebsiella K serotypes, 71 were detectable among the non-ESBL producers, but only 24 were detectable among the ESBL producers. ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains might have a greater pathogenic potential by virtue of their ability to escape the phagocytic activity of PMNLs.

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Acknowledgements

The experiments conducted in this study comply with the current laws of the countries in which they were performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Brunswiker Strasse 4, 24105, Kiel, Germany

    H. Sahly, R. Podschun & U. Ullmann

  2. Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, UK

    H. Aucken

  3. Area de Microbiologia, Departemento de Biologia and Imedea (CSIC-UIB), Universidad de las Islas Baleares, Carretera de Valldemosa Km. 7.5, 07071, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    V. J. Benedi

  4. Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Facultés de Médecine–Pharmacie, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex, France

    C. Forestier & D. Sirot

  5. Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300, Copenhagen S, Denmark

    V. Fussing, D. S. Hansen & D. Sandvang

  6. Department of Human Microbiology, University of Tel Aviv, 69978, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    I. Ofek

  7. Departemento de Microbiologia, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08071, Barcelona, Spain

    J. M. Tomás

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  1. H. Sahly
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  2. H. Aucken
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  3. V. J. Benedi
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  6. D. S. Hansen
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  7. I. Ofek
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  8. R. Podschun
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  9. D. Sirot
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  11. J. M. Tomás
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  12. U. Ullmann
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Sahly.

Additional information

This study is submitted in memory of Vicente Javier Benedi, who died prior to submission of the manuscript

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Sahly, H., Aucken, H., Benedi, V.J. et al. Impairment of Respiratory Burst in Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 23, 20–26 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-1047-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-003-1047-7

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