Authors : I.R. Iroha , G.O. Ezeifeka , E.S. Amadi and C.R. Umezurike
Abstract: A total of 420 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (235) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (185) were collected from 2 tertiary hospitals in Enugu to determine the presence of extended spectrum -lactamase enzymes and its associated risk factors. These isolates were obtained from different sources namely, urinary tract catheters (106), intensive care unit (bacteremia) (52), umbilical catheter (41), abdominal surgery site (91), antibiotic exposure (wound) (57) and arterial catheter (73). They were characterized using standard microbiological techniques. Production of ESBL was determined using the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) method and susceptibility of ESBL positive isolates to Gram negative antibiotic discs was carried out using disc diffusion technique. The result of this study showed that out of 420 clinical isolates of bacteria tested for ESBL enzyme production, 105 (44.6%) isolates of Escherichia coli comprising of 62 (41.3%) from University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu (UNTH) and 43 (57.8%) from Enugu State University teaching hospital Enugu (ESUTH) expresses ESBL enzymes. Also, 62 (33.5%) clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae comprising of 24 (20%) from UNTH and 38 (61.2%) from ESUTH yielded ESBL enzymes. The highest occurrence of ESBL enzyme were from umbilical catheter 39 (36.7%) where, 28 (26.4%) were from E. coli and 11 (10.3%) from K. pneumoniae, while the least were from the antibiotic exposure patients (bacteremia) 20 (35.0%), where 15 (26.3%) were from E. coli and 5 (8.7%) from K. pneumoniae. The susceptibility pattern of ESBL positive strains showed that they were multi-drug resistant except in ESUTH were these organisms were sensitive to ceftriaxone and ofloxacin (57.1%). The study suggests, the routine check for clinical isolates of ESBL production with particular emphasis on patients attending the ICU and those in invasive treatment is recommended.
I.R. Iroha , G.O. Ezeifeka , E.S. Amadi and C.R. Umezurike , 2009. Occurrence of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Producings Resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Clinical Isolates and Associated Risk Factors. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 588-592.