Detection of antimicrobial resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production in Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from infected neonates

Changing Trend in the Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Klebsiella Pneumonia Isolated From Endotracheal Aspirate Samples of ICU Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Introduction Klebsiella pneumonia is one of the most prevalent bacteria that cause nosocomial infections, particularly in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Multi-drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (MDRKP) has become an urgent risk to public health as its prevalence has sharply surged around the globe in recent decades. Therefore, this research was conducted to evaluate shifts over a four-year period in drug susceptibility patterns among Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients. Materials and methods This is a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary care multi-specialty hospital and teaching institute in North India and was approved by the institutional ethics committee. The research comprised Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from endotracheal aspirates (ETA) of patients on mechanical ventilation admitted to the general intensive care unit (ICU) of our tertiary care facility. The data from January to June 2018 and January to June 2022 were collected. According to the antimicrobial resistance profile of the strains, they were categorized as susceptible, resistant to one or two antimicrobial categories, multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), or pan-drug-resistant (PDR). The criteria for MDR, XDR, and PDR were proposed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows, Version 24.0, Armonk, NY, IBM Corp., was used for data input and analysis. Results A total of 82 cases of Klebsiella pneumonia were included in the study. Of these 82 isolates, 40 were isolated over a period of six months from January to June 2018, and the remaining 42 were isolated from January to June 2022. Among the 2018 group, five strains (12.5%) were classified as susceptible, three (7.5%) as resistant, seven (17.5%) as MDR, and 25 (62.5%) as XDR. The highest percentages of antimicrobial resistance in the 2018 group were observed with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (90%), ciprofloxacin (100%), piperacillin/tazobactam (92.5%), and cefoperazone/sulbactam (95%). In comparison, the 2022 group showed no strain as susceptible; nine strains (21.4%) were classified as resistant; three strains (7%) as MDR; and 30 strains (93%) were classified as XDR. There was a significant increase in resistance to amoxicillin, from 10% in 2018 to nil in 2022. Overall, the rate of resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia) increased from 7.5% (3/40) in 2018 to 21.4% (9/42) in 2022, while XDR Klebsiella pneumonia among the mechanically ventilated ICU patients significantly increased from 62.5% (25/40) in 2018 to 71% (30/42) in 2022. Conclusion  K. pneumoniae antibiotic resistance is a real threat in Asia and requires close monitoring to be controlled. More careful attempts should be made to create a new generation of antimicrobials since the prevalence of resistance to existing medications is rising. Antibiotic resistance should be monitored and reported by healthcare institutions regularly.

Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of ESβL Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Urine Samples of Pregnant Women in Karnataka

BACKGROUND

Klebsiella pneumoniae possess a new problem to health care professionals worldwide, which complicates and limits therapeutic options. It is one of the leading nosocomial bacterial pathogens, and the present study aims to determine the prevalence of ESβL producing K. pneumoniae isolates with their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in urine samples of the pregnant women with UTI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using standard isolation and identification procedures a total of 41 isolates were obtained from 417 midstream urine samples of pregnant women with suspected UTI in Karnataka. The antibiotic resistance profile of each isolate was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and ESβL production by standard phenotypic method.

RESULTS

Isolation rate of K. pneumoniae in pregnant women was 19.9% and overall incidence rate was 9.8%. Among the 41 K. pneumoniae isolates, 26 (63.4%) were ESβL producers and all were found to be Multi Drug Resistance (MDR). The antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) for the isolates revealed that the highest number of K. pneumoniae were resistant to ampicillin (75.6%) followed by, nitrofurontoin and cefuroxime (73.1%) and least to chloramphenicol (12.1%). ESβL producers were highly resistance to nitrofurontoin (69.2%) and cotrimonazole (65.2%) and lower resistance was (7.6%) to amaikacin, observed. A higher resistance pattern to these two antibiotics was observed against ESβL non producing K. pneumonia but lowest to polymyxin B (13.3%) instead of amikacin (26.6%). All the isolates were found to be susceptible to imipenem.

CONCLUSION

Present investigation revealed high prevalence of MDR- ESβL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, which indicates dire need for effective ESβL surveillance in the community by using cost effective antimicrobials agents.

Antibiotics and Antifungals in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Review

The incidence of infections is higher in the neonatal period than at any time of life. The basic treatment of infants with infection has not changed substantially over the last years. Antibiotics (with or without supportive care) are one of the most valuable resources in managing sick newborn babies. Early-onset (ascending or transplacental) or late-onset (hospital acquired) infections present different chronology, epidemiology, physiology and outcome. Some classes of antibiotics are frequently used in the neonatal period: penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, monobactams, carbapenems. Other classes of antibiotics (chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole, macrolides, clindamycin, rifampicin and metronidazole) are rarely used. Due to emergence of resistant bacterial strains in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), other classes of antibiotics such as quinolones and linezolid will probably increase their therapeutic role in the future. Although new formulations have been developed for treatment of fungal infections in infants, amphotericin B remains first-line treatment for systemic Candida infection. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy is almost always undesirable. Challenges from pathogens and antibiotic resistance in the NICU may warrant modification of traditional antibiotic regimens. Knowledge of local flora and practical application of different antibiotic characteristics are key to an effective and safe utilization of antibiotics and antifungals in critical newborns admitted to the NICU, and especially in very low birth weight infants.

Coexistence of blaOXA48 and aac(6′)-Ib-cr Genes in Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates from Istanbul, Turkey

This study evaluated the presence of carbapenem hydrolysing β-lactamase genes and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in 22 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from the Istanbul Medical Faculty, Turkey, which reduced the susceptibility or resistance to carbapenem. The VITEK® 2 system and E-tests were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations needed to inhibit bacterial growth. Genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction, and gene transferability was evaluated by transconjugation. Strain clonality was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). All strains were OXA-48 β-lactamase producers and three (13.6%) were also positive for the aac(6′)-Ib-cr gene. Most of the strains harboured other b-lactamase (bla) genes such as blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M and blaVEB-1. The transconjugants mostly harboured blaOXA-48 and other β-lactamases separately. PFGE revealed eight pulsotypes among the isolates. The coexistence of blaOXA-48 and PMQR in K. pneumoniae isolates may present a significant threat to health, especially in the nosocomial setting.

Analysis of ESBL- and AmpC-positive Enterobacteriaceae at the Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Olomouc

Bacterial infections are an important issue in current clinical medicine. The severity of infectious diseases has increased dramatically in recent years, which is also due to increasing numbers of resistant bacteria, including strains producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamases. The study aimed at determining the prevalence of ESBL- and AmpC-positive Enterobacteriaceae at the Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Olomouc. Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from clinical samples from infants hospitalized at the Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Olomouc over a period of 2 years. ESBL- and AmpC-positive isolates were subjected to basic genetic analysis. In the study period, a total of 1,526 isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae family were identified, including 55 (3.6%) cases of the ESBL phenotype and 17 (1.1%) AmpC-positive isolates. Genetic analysis of ESBL-positive isolates revealed a majority of CTX-M enzymes. Among AmpC beta-lactamases, the EBC, CIT, DHA, and MOX types were detected. An Escherichia coli strain was isolated with mutations in the promoter region of the ampC chromosomal gene that are associated with overproduction of the relevant enzyme.

Comparison of the E-test Method with an Automated Bacterial Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Detection System for Screening Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase Producers

Some automated systems used in clinical microbiology laboratories are able to detect products responsible for antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 626 isolates (436 Escherichia coli, 134 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 56 Klebsiella oxytoca strains) were examined for the presumptive detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production by 2 methods: the Sceptor system (BD, Sparks, MD, USA) and the E-test. ESBL production was detected in 26 E. coli strains (5.96%), 60 K. pneumoniae strains (44.77%) and 15 K. oxytoca strains (26.78%) by ceftazidime/ceftazidime-clavulanate E-test. Using the E-test, ESBL production was detected in 25 of 201 E. coli strains (12.43%), 55 of 75 K. pneumoniae (73.33%) and 14 of 27 K. oxytoca strains (51.85%) that were alerted as ESBL-producing strains by the Sceptor system. ESBL positivity was detected in 1 E. coli, 5 K. pneumoniae and 1 K. oxytoca strains, that were not warned as being ESBL producers by the Sceptor system. These data suggest that clinical microbiology laboratories should not only rely on these rapid automated systems but also use another method for screening ESBL producers, such as the E-test. The rates of these ESBL-producing isolates in this study were lower than those in other studies reported from other parts of Turkey, but higher than those reported from the USA and Europe.

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases: a clinical update

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a rapidly evolving group of beta-lactamases which share the ability to hydrolyze third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam yet are inhibited by clavulanic acid. Typically, they derive from genes for TEM-1, TEM-2, or SHV-1 by mutations that alter the amino acid configuration around the active site of these beta-lactamases. This extends the spectrum of beta-lactam antibiotics susceptible to hydrolysis by these enzymes. An increasing number of ESBLs not of TEM or SHV lineage have recently been described. The presence of ESBLs carries tremendous clinical significance. The ESBLs are frequently plasmid encoded. Plasmids responsible for ESBL production frequently carry genes encoding resistance to other drug classes (for example, aminoglycosides). Therefore, antibiotic options in the treatment of ESBL-producing organisms are extremely limited. Carbapenems are the treatment of choice for serious infections due to ESBL-producing organisms, yet carbapenem-resistant isolates have recently been reported. ESBL-producing organisms may appear susceptible to some extended-spectrum cephalosporins. However, treatment with such antibiotics has been associated with high failure rates. There is substantial debate as to the optimal method to prevent this occurrence. It has been proposed that cephalosporin breakpoints for the Enterobacteriaceae should be altered so that the need for ESBL detection would be obviated. At present, however, organizations such as the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) provide guidelines for the detection of ESBLs in klebsiellae and Escherichia coli. In common to all ESBL detection methods is the general principle that the activity of extended-spectrum cephalosporins against ESBL-producing organisms will be enhanced by the presence of clavulanic acid. ESBLs represent an impressive example of the ability of gram-negative bacteria to develop new antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the face of the introduction of new antimicrobial agents.

Hospital-acquired neonatal infections in developing countries

Hospital-born babies in developing countries are at increased risk of neonatal infections because of poor intrapartum and postnatal infection-control practices. We reviewed data from developing countries on rates of neonatal infections among hospital-born babies, range of pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and infection-control interventions. Reported rates of neonatal infections were 3-20 times higher than those reported for hospital-born babies in industrialised countries. Klebsiella pneumoniae, other gram-negative rods (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp, Acinetobacter spp), and Staphylococcus aureus were the major pathogens among 11,471 bloodstream isolates reported. These infections can often present soon after birth. About 70% would not be covered by an empiric regimen of ampicillin and gentamicin, and many might be untreatable in resource-constrained environments. The associated morbidity, mortality, costs, and adverse effect on future health-seeking behaviour by communities pose barriers to improvement of neonatal outcomes in developing countries. Low-cost, "bundled" interventions using systems quality improvement approaches for improved infection control are possible, but should be supported by evidence in developing country settings.

Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses

Pyogenic and amebic liver abscesses are the two most common hepatic abscesses. Amebic abscesses are more common in areas where Entamoeba histolytica is endemic, whereas pyogenic abscesses are more common in developed countries. Pyogenic abscess severity is dependent on the bacterial source and the underlying condition of the patient. Amebic liver abscess is more prevalent in individuals with suppressed cell-mediated immunity, men, and younger people. The right lobe of the liver is the most likely site of infection in both types of hepatic abscess. Patients usually present with a combination of fever, right-upper-quadrant abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly. Jaundice is more common in the pyogenic abscess. The diagnosis is often delayed and is usually made through a combination of radiologic imaging and microbiologic, serologic, and percutaneous techniques. Treatment involves antibiotics along with percutaneous drainage or surgery.

Late-onset infection and the role of antibiotic prescribing policies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Late-onset infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in low-birth-weight and premature infants. Empirical antibiotic treatment is used as infants can deteriorate rapidly without treatment. Current data on the epidemiology of late-onset infection, the types of antibiotics used, duration of antibiotic use, and antibiotic prescribing policies are reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiological data on late-onset sepsis is dominated by information concerning developed countries; large prospective data collections have been set up in many such countries. Recent data indicate that late-onset sepsis occurs in one-fifth of very-low-birth-weight infants. There are increasing concerns regarding antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic regimens that do not include third-generation cephalosporins produce less resistance. Strategies of antibiotic rotation have not been documented as producing a marked effect on the development of resistant micro-organisms, but there is a lack of randomized trials. Recommendations for preventing the spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci, produced by the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, have been shown to be effective in a number of situations. Recent reports have documented the success of multidisciplinary, systems-orientated approaches for reducing neonatal nosocomial infection.

SUMMARY

Antibiotic prescribing policies have an important role to play in the treatment of late-onset neonatal infection. There is enough evidence to state that narrow-spectrum antibiotics should be used wherever possible and that potent broad-spectrum antibiotics should be kept in reserve. Ongoing prospective surveillance of infection rates, micro-organisms, resistance and antibiotic use is essential.