Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase - Producing <i>Klebsiella pneumonia </i>and <i>Escherichia coli </i>from Blood Cultures of Hospitalized Patients in Abakaliki Metropolis

Abstract

The incidence of antibiotic resistance in extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing <i>Escherichia coli </i>and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae </i>has obviously increased in recent era. Twelve strains of Gram-negative bacteria comprising of 6 <i>Escherichia coli</i> and 6 <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> were isolated from blood samples of hospitalized patients in Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki I (FETHA I). The extended spectrum β-lactamases detection was ascertained using double disc diffusion methods. Identification of organisms was done using appropriate microbiological technique. Antibiotics susceptibility test was carried out on Mueller-Hinton agar using the disc diffusion method. Ofloxacin and cefoxitin were 83.3% active against <i>E. coli</i>, followed by sulphamathroxazole with 66.7% activity. While ofloxacin was 100% active against <i>K. pneumoniae</i>, followed by cefoxitin and tetracycline with 83.3% activity. Amikacin and ciprofloxacin showed the highest resistance against <i>E. coli</i> and <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. This resistance is associated with extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) production which was detected in <i>K. pneumoniae</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. ESBL production was observed in 80% of Gram negative bacilli. ESBL-producing organisms have significant impact on several important clinical outcomes and hence clinical microbiology laboratories should take into account the varying epidemiology of ESBL producers in order to improve treatment strategies and expand therapeutic options.