Abstract
Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumonia has become widespread in hospitals and is
increasing in community settings. Most of K. pneumonia that harbor these enzymes, display resistance to other unrelated antimicrobial
agents and thus, often pose a therapeutic dilemma.
Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing K. pneumonia in a major university hospital in
Zahedan, Iran.
Materials and Methods: The susceptibility of 83 K. pneumonia isolates to 12 antibiotics was assessed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion
method. For the ESBL phenotypic test, double-disk diffusion (DD) method was used.
Results: The highest resistance rates of the isolates were seen against cefixime (82%), cefotaxime (81%), ceftriaxone (73%), ceftazidime (72%),
and azithromycin (60%), consecutively. The lowest resistance rates were observed against gentamicin (58%), tetracycline (59%), nalidixic
acid (59%), and amikacin (63%), consecutively. ESBLs were found in 65% of K. pneumonia isolates.
Conclusions: We found that 65% of K. pneumonia isolates produced ESBL. Therapeutic strategies to control infections should be carefully
formulated in teaching hospitals. The high percentage of drug resistance in ESBL-producing K. pneumonia suggests that routine detection
of ESBL by reliable laboratory methods is required.