Abstract:
Introduction:
Klebsiella pneumoniae
is a gram negative
enterobacteriaciae
commonly associated with nosocomial infections. Multi-
drug resistant strains are increasingly being reported with corresponding increase in morbidity and mortality. The study outlines the
epidemiology and antibiotic resistance pattern of
K. pneumonia
over a 10 year period in Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret,
Kenya.
Methodology and Study Design:
This is a retrospective analysis of all the blood culture results for
K. pneumoniae
isolates in the
hospital for the period 2002-2013.
Results:
K. pneumoniae
accounted for 23% of the hospital isolates (231/1356) during the study period; of these, 82.6% were from the
New Born Unit. Most of the isolates were multi drug resistant with highest resistance of over 80% to Penicillins, Cephalosporins,
Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Sulphonamides, Lincosamides and Chloramphenicol. Aminoglycoside and Quinolone resistance was also high
at 49.2% and 41.3% respectively. The lowest resistance rates were documented for Carbapenems (23.2%). For specific antibiotics, there
was high resistance to commonly used antibiotics (over 80% for Ceftriaxone, Cefipime, Gentamycin and Ceftazidime). The antibiotics
with least resistance were Amikacin and Meropenem (21% and 7 % respectively).
Conclusion:
There was a high prevalence of multidrug resistant
K. pneumoniae
isolates in the hospital, the majority originated from the
New Born Unit. Resistance to third generation Cephalosporins and Gentamycin was high while Meropenem and Amikacin had the least
resistance.
