Authors : Hani A. Masaadeh, Ali Alrifai, Ahed J Alkhatib and Mamdoh Meqdam
Abstract: The incidence of the Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL producing strains among clinical Klebsiella isolates has been steadily increasing over past years. The resulting limitations on the therapeutic options demand new measures for the management of K. pneumoniae hospital infections. A total of 112 K. pneumoniae isolates were isolated from different wards of the three major hospitals in Northern Jordan. The isolates were identified using bacteriological methods, biochemical testing and disc diffusion technique. ESBL producing isolates were detected using the double disk diffusion method and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). ESBL producing strains constituted 31.25% of all recovered isolates. The percentage of aztronam resistance isolates among all samples was 78% (87/112). 35 (100%) isolates were resistant to cefuroxime followed by 34 (97.1%) of isolates were resistant to cefpodoxime and aztronam. The 97% of ESBL producing strains were susceptible to imipenem and 89% were susceptible to ciprofloxacin which suggesting that imipenem is the drug of choice as a therapeutic option for K. pneumoniae infections. Further more, out of 35 isolates; 33 (94.3%) and 28 (80%) were positive for TEM and SHV genes, respectively. K. pneumoniae has been added to the growing list of pathogens which are susceptible to a very limited number of antibiotic therapies.
Hani A. Masaadeh, Ali Alrifai, Ahed J Alkhatib and Mamdoh Meqdam, 2018. Molecular Epidemiology of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-ProducingK. pneumoniae in Northern Jordan. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 12: 63-69.