Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of
Extended-spectrum β- Lactamase- producing klebsiella pneumoniae
at a Microbiology Diagnostic Center in Kashmir

Shamweel Ahmad

Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of extendedspectrum
β- lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from different
clinical specimens.
Methods: A total of 144 (10.2%) isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were recovered from
1409 different clinical specimens like urines, wound swabs, sputum and blood at Al-Haram
Diagnostic, Research and Training Center, Kashmir, India over a period of 24 months from
December, 2005 to November, 2007. All these isolates were tested for ESBL production.
Results: Of 144 isolates of K. pneumoniae, 18 (12.5%) were positive for ESBL production.
Most ESBL producers (50%) were from urines, followed by infected wounds (22.2%),
sputum (16.7%) and blood (11.1%). ESBL producing strains of K. pneumoniae showed the
highest susceptibility to imipenem (~89%). The non β- lactam antibiotics with greatest
activity against these ESBL strains were ciprofloxacin (72%), Amikacin (66%), tobramycin
(61 %) and gentamicin (50%).
1
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate a high percentage of ESBL producers among clinical
isolates of K. pneumoniae and a high rate of multidrug resistance. Two (11.1%) of strains of
ESBL producing K. pneumoniae were resistant to imipenem. Therefore, regular monitoring
of imipenem sensitivity and routine testing of newer carbapenems like meropenem and
ertapenem should be carried out further. (Rawal Med J 2009;34:68-72).

Key words: K. pneumoniae, ESBLs, Multidrug resistance.