Detection of Multidrug Resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Hospital Environment

Since nosocomial outbreak of antibiotic resistant bacterial infection is a biohazard., a study was done in 2007 to find out the incidence of extended spectrum β lactamase (ESβL) producer multidrug resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospital environment. 76 Escherichia coli and 45 Klebsiella pneumoniae obtained from variable sources of hospital environment of Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and Calcutta Medical College were tested in Bacteriology laboratory. Experiments related to antibiotic sensitivity, ESβL production, plasmid isolation and plasmid curing were done. Overall ESβL production was 48.684% in E. coli and 51.111% in K. pneumoniae. ESβL producer strains were most prevalent in the isolates obtained from health care workers. It is evident from plasmid curing that a single identical and plasmid of more or less 130 kb in size is responsible for the resistance pattern : Ceftazidime- Gentamicin-Norfloxacin-Trimethoprim in 61.666% ESβL producer isolates. This alarming prevalence of multidrug resistant ESβL producer strains in hospital environment highlights the need for rational use of antibiotics and implementation of better infection control programs in hospitals.