Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of extended spectrum beta-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from urine samples of patients visiting private laboratories in Abakaliki Metropolis

Studies have shown that Klebsiella oxytoca is a major cause of infections in humans. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. oxytoca from urine samples of patients visiting private laboratories in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. A total of 150 mid-steam urine samples of patients visiting three main private laboratories in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State were analyzed for the presence of K. oxytoca using standard bacteriological identification methods. Out of the 150 urine samples cultured, seven (7) were phenotypically identified as K. oxytoca. Isolated K. oxytoca were screened for ESBL production by antibiotic susceptibility test using second and third generation cephalosporins, and double disc synergy test. Susceptibility of ESBL-positive K. oxytoca to various classes of antibiotics was done on Mueller-Hinton agar (Oxoid, England) by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique. Results showed that 3 (42.8%) out of the seven (7) K. oxytoca isolates were ESBL-producers. All the ESBL-producers were completely resistant (100%) to ofloxacin, gentamicin, cefoxitin, sulphamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin and ertapenem. The average multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) of the K. oxytoca isolates was one (1) and this explains their high multi-drug resistance trait. This study revealed that ESBL-producing K. oxytoca isolates exhibited complete resistance to all antibiotics tested against them. The multi-drug resistant traits expressed by these K. oxytoca isolates in our study area could lead to grave public health consequences if not curtailed.