ABSTRACT
Klebsiella species are Gram negative bacilli whose cells are surrounded with capsule. Virulence factors such as capsules, fimbriae, hypermucoviscosity, biofilm formation, and siderophores usually involve in the ability of the species to cause diseases. Klebsiella species are often resistant to different antibiotics including the cephalosporins and aminoglycosides and this varies geographically. Hence, this study was focused on detecting some of the virulence factors and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella species.
A total of one-hundred (100) suspected Klebsiella isolates were obtained from routine specimens such as swabs, pus, catheter tip, sputum and urine samples sent to Bacteriology laboratory in Central Hospital Benin City. The bacterialisolates were stored on slant at 4°C. All stored bacterial was reactivated by subculturing onto MacConkey agar, and confirmed using standard bacteriological procedures. Detection of virulence factors namely hypermucoviscosity, capsule and biofilm formation was done phenotypically. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to detect the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates. The multidrug resistant isolates were subjected to plasmid profiling and curing
Out of the 100 isolates obtained, sixty one (61) were confirmed to be Klebsiella isolates Hypermucoviscosity (HMV) phenotype was observed in 8(13.1%) of the isolates, while 53(86.9%) isolates exhibited a negative phenotype of hypermucoviscosity. All isolates 61(100%) were positive for capsule production. A total of 38(62.3%) isolates had moderate binding ability and 10 (16.4%) of the isolates had intense red colonies while 13(21.3%) isolates did not bind Congo red. Susceptibility test revealed highest sensitivity to Ofloxacin (77.0%) and least sensitivity to Augmentin (1.6%). Plasmid profiling of the multidrug resistant isolates revealed that only two isolates harboured plasmids and upon curing and antibiotic sensitivity test, the isolates were still resistant to antibiotics used. Klebsiella species possess virulence factors which may play a vital role in antibiotic resistance. Therefore, knowledge in virulence factors as well as susceptibility pattern will help in providing information to guide clinicians on better treatment options for infections caused by Klebsiella species.
