Application of Taqman RTi-PCR Assay in Specific Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae from Surface Waters

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infections. The normal habitat of K. pneumoniae is the human intestines and the bacterium causes no infection in normal flora. Although, many Klebsiella infections are hospital-acquired infections, K. pneumoniae may also be transferred from environmental sources due to its widely distribution in nature. The environmental isolates of K. pneumoniae additionally pose a risk to humans as clinical isolates. The present study aims to investigate the potential of K. pneumoniae in surface waters by using PCR and RTi-PCR assays. We have optimized PCR and RTi-PCR assays with high sensitivity and specificity for K. pneumoniae. Surface waters samples were collected from different regions and analyzed by using PCR and RTi-PCR assays. The results indicated that all tested water samples are contaminated with K. pneumoniae at different levels. The RTi-PCR findings were confirmed by conventional PCR