ABSTRACT
Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important and prevalent bacterium isolated from clinical cases especially from hospitalized patients. Recent studies have focused on multiple drug resistant Kpneumoniae strains. In this survey, drug resistance in clinical isolates was studied with special reference to extended spectrum b-lactamase. A total of 303 Kpneumoniae strains isolated from hospitalized patients were initially surveyed for drug resistance by disc diffusion method. The resistance of the isolated strains to different antibiotics was determined by E-test. b-lactamase production was tested with nitrocephin discs and extended spectrum b-lactamase assays were performed with double disc synergy tests. From the total of 303 Kpneumoniae isolates tested, 62, [20.4%], showed multi drug resistance, [MDR]. All of these MDR strains were positive for nitrocephin test, indicating b-lactamase production. Double disc synergy tests results showed production of extended spectrum b-lactamase in all MDR isolates. Detection of 20.4% MDR strains, especially extended spectrum b-lactamase, from K. pneumoniae isolated from hospitalized patients, emphasizes the potential dangers of the widespread usage of extended spectrum cephalosporins. It also necessitates conduction of a wider study to determine the nationwide incidence of K. pneumoniae