Phenotypic prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamases among enterobacteriaceae isolated at Mulago National Referral Hospital: Uganda

OBJECTIVE: Enterobacteriaceae, common causes of health care associated and community acquired infections are mainly treated with beta-lactam agents. Our study objective was to determine the prevalence and common enterobacteriaceae pathogen producing extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs). The isolates were recovered from various clinical specimens. This was cross sectional study conducted between July 2016 and September 2016 at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. We used ChromID™ ESBL agar (Biomerieux SA, Lyon, France) and Vitek2 compact system GN83 card (BioMerieux Inc, Hazelwood, Missouri, USA) to detect and confirm presence of phenotypic extended spectrum beta lactamases producing pathogens respectively. RESULTS: Of the 261 tested clinical isolates, 35 (13.4%) were identified as ESBLs producing bacteria. Escherichia coli predominated in the samples [18 (51.4%)], presenting the highest frequency of ESBLs producing, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia [10 (28.5%)], Proteus mirabilis [4 (11.4%)], Enterobacter sp. [2 (5.7%)] and least among Acinetobacter baumanii [1 (2.8%)].