Chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride: promising adjuncts in combating multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in healthcare settings

TL;DR

This study shows that chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride can help fight drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospitals.

Contribution

The study identifies the efficacy of chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride against MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae and links the cepA gene to drug resistance.

Findings

All Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were multidrug resistant with resistance indices up to 1.

Benzalkonium chloride MICs increased with resistance, reaching 64 µg/mL, while chlorhexidine MICs remained consistent.

The cepA gene was detected in 72% of isolates and is associated with extensive drug resistance.

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae pose a significant global health threat. Effective antisepsis and disinfection protocols are mandatory to prevent these infections. This study aimed to isolate Klebsiella pneumoniae, evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility, and assess the efficacy of selected biocides.

Fifty clinical MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were collected from various hospital departments. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the disc diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of chlorhexidine and benzalkonium chloride were measured via agar dilution. Conventional PCR was employed to detect biocide resistance genes (qacE∆1 and cepA).

Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified in 19.16% of cases. All isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, with multiple antimicrobial resistance indices ranging from 0.24 to 0.92, reaching up to 1. Benzalkonium chloride MICs significantly increased with resistance, reaching up to 64 µg/mL, while chlorhexidine MICs were consistent across isolates. The qacE∆1 and cepA genes were detected in 62% and 72% of isolates, respectively, with a significant association between qacE∆1 and cephalosporin resistance. No significant correlation was found between biocide MICs and clinical specimen types or hospital units.

The cepA gene is closely associated with extensive drug resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae, emphasizing its role in antimicrobial resistance. Optimized biocide formulations, when properly developed and applied, can play a crucial role in combating and preventing infections caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-025-10980-w.

Not applicable.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-025-10980-w.

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