title: Molecular Characteristics and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles ofKlebsiellaIsolates in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
abstract: The increase in the incidence of extended-spectrumβ-lactamase- (ESBL-) producingKlebsiellaspecies has become a serious problem worldwide, because of their incrimination in antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study is to investigate the resistance genes responsible for ESBL-producingKlebsiellaspecies and carbapenemase-producingKlebsiella(CRE) isolated in Mthatha and to study their epidemiology. A prospective, descriptive study of 202 nonrepetitive samples from patients was obtained from Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. The culturedKlebsiellaisolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests and the polymerase chain reaction ofblaCTX-M,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaKPC, andblaNDMgenes. OverallK. pneumoniaewere the majority with 169 (83.7%) species isolates, followed byK. oxytocawith 29 (14.4%), whileK. ozaenaeandRaoultella ornithinolyticawere 2 (0.9%) each. The prevalence of ESBL production in allKlebsiellaspecies was 117 (57.9%). ESBL-genotypic resistance is driven in Mthatha byblaSHV121 (77.1%) followed byblaTEM105 (66.9%) andblaCTX-Mat 89 (56.7%). The most common ESBL genotype combination among theKlebsiellawasblaTEM+blaSHV+blaCTX-Mat 79 (50.3%). There is a steady increase in the rate of ESBL genes in the last five years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X1, Mthatha, Eastern Cape 5117, South Africa.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7859-1320
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vasaikar
authors.affiliation: Academic Affairs, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Obi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Mobutu Drive, P.O. Box 80462, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morobe
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bisi-Johnson