Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases status among Gram-Negative Bacterial Isolates from Clinical Specimens in four Major Hospitals in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance among clinically important bacteria is a global health challenge. Strains that have the potentials of producing Extended-Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) have become more prevalent. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic
susceptibility and ESBL production among Gram-negative rods isolated from four hospitals in Nigeria. A total of 315 Gram-negative rods were isolated from various clinical samples. Standard identification of the isolates was carried out using Vitek 2 compact.
Susceptibilities to antibiotics and production of ESBL was carried out by disk diffusion and double-disk synergy test methods respectively. Ten genera of Gram-negative rods were identified which includes Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli. All the isolates were resistant to ampicillin followed by high resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, while imipenem had the highest number of susceptibilities. ESBL result was positive for 168/315 (53.3%) of which K. pneumonia and E. coli isolates were the highest producers with 86/168 (51. 1 %) and 61/168 (36.3%) respectively. The results of this study underscore the significance K. pneumonia and E. coli among clinical isolates with potentials for ESBL production. However, the detection of ESBL producing bacteria is of uttermost
importance for effective infection control and epidemiological surveillance.