Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains Isolated from Pediatric Patients in Jordan

ABSTRACT

Bacterial resistance has been emerging and become major public health problem worldwide. The present study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial resistant pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical specimens of Jordanian pediatric patients during the period from January to December 2008. A total of 166 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical specimens and tested for their susceptibility to different antimicrobial drugs. Overall, high resistance rate was recorded for ampicillin [91.3%], followed by imipenem [90.9%], pipracillin [86.3%], ceftriaxone [83.8%], aztreonam [83.3%] and vancomycin [80.6%]. Lower relatively resistance rate was recorded for ciprofloxacin [6.9%], followed by norfloxacin [15.1%], nalidixic acid [33.6%], and gentamicin [39.7%]. beta-lactam antibiotics as well as imipenem, aztreonam, and vancomycin should not be used in treating infections caused by pathogenic K. pneumoniae and other related bacteria in Jordan. However, quinolone compounds and gentamicin seem to be effective in treatment of infections caused by pathogenic K. pneumoniae