Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Klebsiella Species Isolated from Pregnant Women with Dysuria Attending Selected Medical Centre in Northern Nigeria

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is caused by the presence and growth of microorganisms in the urinary tract. Klebsiella infection is perhaps one of the common bacterial infections of mankind capable of causing urinary tract infections.

Aims: This study targeted to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Klebsiella species isolated from pregnant women reported with dysuria attending selected Medical Centre in Northern Nigeria.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Microbiology unit, Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Zaria, and Ahmadu Bello University Health Service, Kaduna, Nigeria, between July 2010 and February 2011.

Methodology: Fifty mid-stream urine samples of were collected from consented pregnant women complaining of painful urination, attending selected medical centre in Northern Nigeria. Klebsiella species were isolated and biochemically characterized using standard microbiological methods. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity test using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique.

Results: The prevalence of Klebsiella species was found to be 5 (10%). The klebsiellae species identified biochemically includes Klebsiella oxytoca and K. pneumoniae. The highest antimicrobial susceptibility in Klebsiella species was recorded by ciprofloxacin (100%) and gentamicin (100%). Resistance was recorded by ampicillin (0%). The antibiotics that were found to be more effective such as ciprofloxacin and gentamicin are regarded to be the first line drugs of choice for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by the isolated Klebsiella species. Thus, continuous monitoring of antibacterial susceptibility before antibiotic prescription is important in order to monitor any emergence of resistance to the commonly active antimicrobials.

Conclusion: Klebsiella oxytoca and K. pneumoniae were isolated amongst the screened pregnant women with overall prevalence of 10%. From the results obtained, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were found to be the first line drugs of choice for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by the isolated klebsiellae species, whereas ampicillin recorded less activity.