ESBL PRODUCTION: RESISTANCE PATTERN IN ESCHERICHIA COLI ANDKLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE, A STUDY BY DDST METHOD

Objectives: Resistance to third generation cephalosporins in E. coli and K. pneumoniae are due to various factors. The present study was undertaken to detect resistance mediated by ESBL’s. Multidrug resistance in isolates producing ESBL was also studied. Methods: The study included a total of 200 clinical specimens which include 95 urine, 45 pus, 32 sputum, 11 blood, 9 throat swabs, 6 suction tips and 2 vaginal swabs. The E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates which were screen positive were studied for ESBL production by DDST method. Results: Culture of 200 samples yielded 200 isolates (117 E. coli and 83 K. pneumoniae). Out of these, 98 (49%) were screen positive for ESBL. Among them 79 (53 E. coli and 26 K. pneumoniae) were found to produce ESBL. Among them, 4 (7.6%) isolates of E. coli and 4 (15.3%) isolates of K. pneumoniae were positive by DDST method. The prevalence of 39.5% of ESBL production was noted in the present study. Among ESBL positive isolates, 98.1% were resistant to cefoxitin, however all of them were susceptible to imipenem. Conclusion: The prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae was found to be high and routine screening of ESBL should be preformed on all isolates showing decreased susceptibility to one or more of third generation cephalosporins.