DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2013.v01i01.005

Pages: 20-23

Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to detect by in vitro phenotypic method the occurrence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes from Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, and to buttress the growing need to detect these all important pathogens in hospital laboratories across Nigeria. Our study included 50 clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae from urine specimens of patients that attended a tertiary hospital in Enugu state, Nigeria. A total of 21 strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated from male patients, while 29 strains were isolated from female patients. The antibiogram and the production of ESBL enzymes from the test organism were evaluated by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and double disk synergy test method respectively. ESBL was detected in 13 out of 50 K. pneumoniae isolates employed in our study. Of all the strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from the male patients, only 5 were confirmed to be ESBL positive, while 8 strains of K. pneumoniae from those isolated from female patients expressed ESBL. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the distribution of ESBL-producing and non ESBL-producing strains of K. pneumoniae among the male and female patients. K. pneumoniae isolates produced varied range of susceptibility and resistance towards the tested antibiotics with imipenem and meropenem showing the best antibacterial activity. Sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim was the least active agent. Overall, ESBL production was detected in 26% of the K. pneumoniae isolates, and these were multidrug resistant. The presence of an ESBL complicates treatment option; hence their prompt detection is critical to patient’s wellbeing.