Extended Spectrum B-Lactamase Mediated Resistance in Escherichia Coli in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: ESBL occur mostly in Enterobacteriaceae e.g. Escherichia coli. ESBLs are clinically important because they destroy cephalosporin’s, work horse hospital antibiotics, given as first line agents to many severely ill patients. Delayed recognition and inappropriate treatment of severe infections caused by ESBL producers with cephalosporin has been associated with increased mortality. ESBL-mediated resistance is not always obvious in vitro to all cephalosporin. Many ESBL producers are multi -resistant to non-B-Lactam antibiotics such as quinolones and amino glycosides, narrowing treatment options. Some producers achieve outbreak status spreading among patients and locals, perhaps owing to particular pathogenicity traits.