Low prevalence but high resistance of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance continues to be a threat to public health worldwide, with its associated increased healthcare costs and loss of human lives. Despite the increasing reports of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), its prevalence and resistance patterns remain under-reported in several developing countries, including Ghana.

OBJECTIVES

This study hence sought to investigate the prevalence and resistance patterns of K. pneumoniae isolates from five selected hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

METHODS

K. pneumoniae isolates were identified using biochemical tests, API 20 E and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). AST and ESBL production were determined phenotypically and via PCR.

RESULTS

Twenty (20) K. pneumoniae isolates were confirmed from the samples. The isolates were resistant to ampicillin (100%), ciprofloxacin (76.67%), co-trimoxazole (75%), chloramphenicol (63.33%) and cephalosporins (76.67 to 55%). Eighteen of the K. pneumoniae isolates (90%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR) while 60% of the isolates (n=12) produced Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) with blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM β-lactamase resistant encoding genes confirmed in 83, 75 and 33% of the isolates respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is low prevalence but high multidrug resistance and high production of ESBL among K. pneumoniae isolates from the selected hospitals.