Abstract
Increasing trends of resistance to antibiotics because of production of beta-lactamases, such as carbapenamase-mediated resistance and extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), are the most widespread mechanisms documented in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The objective of this study was to understand the prevalent mechanisms of resistance among the clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumonia from inpatients of a tertiary care hospital at Baghdad, Iraq. Among the 97 MDR K. pneumoniae isolates, 47.4% (n = 46) isolates showed ESBL production, 38.7% (n = 38) showed metallo beta-lactamase (MBL) production, and 22.7% (n = 22) showed both ESBL and MBLs production. Out of 97 MDR K. pneumoniae, 94.3% were found to be biofilm producers. ESBL production was the predominant mechanism of resistance followed by MBL production. Since very limited therapeutic options are available, increasing resistance mechanisms among these organisms is an 'alarming sign'. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.