Risk factors for acquisition of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in north-Indian hospitals

Abstract EN

Multidrug resistance and production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) by enteric gram negative rods in hospitals and community continue to be a matter of scientific concern.

This retrospective study was executed to assess the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at two North Indian hospitals and to determine the risk factors associated with the acquisition of these organisms.

A total of 346 bacterial isolates were obtained.

Of these, 48.27 % (n = 167) were confirmed to be ESBL producers while 51.73 % (n = 179) were non ESBL-producers.

Among the ESBL producers, 55.69 % (n = 93) were E.

coli and 44.31 % (n = 74) were K.

pneumoniae.

ESBL producing isolates showed co-resistance to multitude of antibiotics tested.

Length of hospital stay (> 3 days) and previous exposure to antibiotics were found as significant risk factors (p = 0.01 and 0.02) associated with the acquisition of ESBL-producing E.

coli and K.

pneumoniae isolates.

Imipenem and meropenem can be suggested as drugs of choice in our study.