Low prevalence but high resistance of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Background: Antibiotic resistance continues to be a threat to public health worldwide, with its associated increased healthcare costs and loss of human lives. Despite the increasing reports of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), its prevalence and resistance patterns remain under-reported in several developing countries, including Ghana. Objectives: This study hence sought to investigate the prevalence and resistance patterns of K. pneumoniae isolates from five selected hospitals in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Methods: K. pneumoniae isolates were identified using biochemical tests, API 20 E and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). AST and ESBL production were determined phenotypically and via PCRResults: Twenty (20) K. pneumoniae isolates were confirmed from the samples. The isolates were resistant to ampicillin (100%), ciprofloxacin (76.67%), co-trimoxazole (75%), chloramphenicol (63.33%) and cephalosporins (76.67 to 55%). Eighteen of the K. pneumoniae isolates (90%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR) while 60% of the isolates (n=12) produced Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) with blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM β-lactamase resistant encoding genes confirmed in 83, 75 and 33% of the isolates respectively.Conclusion: There is low prevalence but high multidrug resistance and high production of ESBL among K. pneumoniae isolates from the selected hospitals. Keywords: ESBLs; K. pneumoniae; antibiotic resistance; Ghana.