Antibiogram Profile of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Isolates from Superficial Wound, High Vaginal and Antral Washout Specimens in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is recognized as an important gram negative opportunities pathogen. It has the ability to adhere to host structures using its polysaccharide capsule, thus facilitating infection. This prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) to establish the prevalence of K. pneumoniae from superficial wounds, high vaginal and antral washout specimens. A total of 2,000 specimens were submitted for routine bacteriological analysis between January and September 2009. Specimens were cultured unto chocolate, blood, and McConkey agar plates and incubated aerobically and anaerobically for 24 hrs. Isolates were identified by standard methods and susceptibility tests were done on nutrient agar according to the method of Bauer and Kirby. One thousand five hundred and eighty nine isolates of various bacteria were obtained from the 2,000 specimens, representing 79.5% recovery rate. K. pneumoniae strains accounted for 146 (9.2%) of all microbial isolates. Others were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus morganii, Proteus rettgerri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes fecalis, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Candida albicans. The K. pneumoniae isolates were sensitive to ofloxacin, ceftazidime and gentamycin, moderately sensitive to amoxicillin-clavulanate, clarithromycin, cefuroxime and ceftriazone but strongly resistant to lincomycin and cloxacillin. The increasing resistance of K. pneumoniae to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is a big challenge to health care industry. Measures to reduce the misuse of available antimicrobials were suggested.

Keywords: Superficial wound infection, Antibiotic resistance, Klebsiella pneumoniae.