The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates of <i>Klebsiella</i> species and the prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamase producers in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates of Klebsiella species and the prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producers.

Design: This was a cross sectional study on the antibiotic susceptibility of Klebsiella species isolated in clinical laboratories in Harare.

Setting: This was a laboratory-based study.

Subjects: One hundred clinical isolates of Klebsiella species.

Main Outcome Measures: The prevalence of ESBL producing Klebsiella isolates was 36.0% and the ESBL producing isolates were significantly more resistant to antibiotics than the non-ESBLproducing isolates.

Results: Seventy of the Klebsiella isolates were from urine specimens and 30 were from pus swabs. Ninety seven of the 100 isolates collected were identified as K. pneumoniae whilst three were K. oxytoca. The prevalence of ESBL producing Klebsiella species was 36.0% and 72.2% were isolated from urine samples while 27.8% were isolated from pus swabs. Over 80.0% of both non-ESBL and ESBL producers of the Klebsiella isolates were  susceptible to meropenem and over 65.0% of isolates in both groups were also susceptible to amikacin. There were high resistance rates of over  87.0% to ampicillin, carbenicillin and nitrofurantoin in both ESBL and non-ESBLKlebsiella isolates. ESBL-producing isolates of Klebsiella were  significantly more resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, augmentin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, co-trimoxazole and tetracycline than non-ESBLproducing isolates.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed a high prevalence of ESBL positive Klebsiella species and most of the ESBL producing strains were resistant to many antibiotics.