Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage against mdr klebsiella pneumoniae from hospital sewage

• Main Author: Abusalah, Manal Abdel Haleem A.
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: R Medicine; RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.usm.my/63339/

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDR-KP) in healthcare settings has been increasing recently. Bacteriophages are a potential therapy against MDR bacteria and can be isolated from effluent water and other environmental sources. Additionally, bacteriophages are recognized as critical agents in the battle against MDR-KP infections. The high concentration of inorganic and organic compounds in hospital wastewater (HWW) provides a favourable environment for organisms, including phages, which supports the successful isolation of bacteriophages. Therefore, this study utilized wastewater samples collected from Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM) and subjected them to a series of filtration and enrichment procedures to isolate phages that target MDR-KP. The isolated phages were subsequently characterized by their temperature stability, pH stability, chloroform stability, and host range. A high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) was used to determine the morphology of the bacteriophages. The isolated phages exhibited a confined host range and showed high specificity for MDR-KP strains. Morphological analysis revealed that the phages belonged to the Siphoviridae and Podoviridae families. Furthermore, the phages demonstrated lytic activity under various undesirable conditions, including high pH, extreme temperature, and chloroform. These findings highlight the bacteriophages' potential as specific and effective biocontrol agents against MDR-KP infections, providing an opportunity for phage therapy in healthcare settings.