Sofia Nawaz1 , Syeda Fahada Zia2 , P. Shashikala Reddy3
BACKGROUND Extended Spectrum Beta - Lactamase producing organisms causing urinary tract infections (ESBL- UTI) are increasing in incidence and pose a major burden to healthcare. We wanted to assess the prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. in a tertiary hospital using a phenotypic detection procedure based on the combined disk diffusion method. METHODS This is a prospective study done among 600 midstream urine samples in the Department of Microbiology at Osmania Medical College and General Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana over a period of one-year, between March 2019 and February 2020. RESULTS A total of 600 urine samples were studied and 385 (64 %) showed significant growth. A higher prevalence of ESBL production was observed in Klebsiella species (70.3 %) followed by E. coli (50 %). Out of 385 isolates, 229 isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. passed ESBL screening test but only 36 (15.7 %) were confirmed ESBL producers phenotypically. CONCLUSIONS Hospitals should develop strategies to minimize the spread of ESBL producing organisms by observing universal precautions and minimizing contact among hospitalized patients. This might reduce the spread of ESBL producing organisms in the community. Adherence to recommended hand washing techniques or use of hand rubs may help to prevent transmission of these infections from one patient to the other.
