Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Various Clinical Specimens in Ujjain City, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important opportunistic pathogen that commonly causes nosocomial infections and contributes to substantial morbidity and mortality. We sought to investigate the sensitivity pattern of K. pneumoniae isolated from various clinical specimens. Methods- This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Medical College and Ujjain Charitable Trust Hospital in Ujjain City during March 2021 to September 2021 on total 463culture positive isolates from various clinical specimens. Identification of K. pneumoniae and antibiogram testing were performed by using VITEK-2 compact bacterial identification and monitoring system (bioMerieux, US). The data were analyzed by using NCSS statistical software 2021. Results- In total, 83 positive K. pneumoniae cultures from various clinical samples were examined. The isolates were more predominant in the females (n = 45; 54.2%) compared to males (n = 38; 45.8%). The antibiotic resistance rate of K. pneumoniae varied among different isolate clinical sample sources. Overall, high resistance rates were recorded for ampicillin (100%), amoxyclav (81.48%),  piperacillin/ tazobactam (73.68%), cefuroxime (94.74%), ceftriaxone (91.2%), cefotaxime (91.2%),  and cefepime (73.68%). A total of 83 K. pneumoniae isolates, 75 were ESBL (90.36%) producers. However, colistin (100%) showed the highest susceptibility rate against the isolates. Conclusion- the wide variety of MDR K. pneumoniae harboring β-lactams and virulence genes strongly suggest a necessity for the implementation of effective strategies to prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections.