Abstract
Background
The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae constitutes a serious problem because of the transfer of resistance genes from one organism to another.
Objectives
To screen the antibiotic susceptibility of E. coli and K. pneumoniae from inpatients at King Abdul- Aziz Hospital, Al-Taif, Saudi Arabia and to detect common ESBL genes, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping of the Enterobacteriaceae.
Methods
We analyzed 43 bacterial strains isolated from clinical samples of sporadic cases for their reactivity to different antibiotics. Strains that showed resistance by monoplex PCR were screened for ESBL TEM- and CTXM-1-, -2-, and -9-encoding genes. Random amplifications were used for typing the resistant strains.
Results
The majority of the ESBL containing strains were sensitive to meropenem, amikacin, gentamicin, and tigecycline. PCR detection using ESBL gene-specific primers showed that 17 of 43 strains harbored genes for ESBL TEM, CTX-M-1, or CTX-M-2. RAPD typing revealed marked variation among the ESBL-producing E.coli in relation to each other.
Conclusions
Considerably high incidence of ESBL-producing bacteria was present patients from the local area of Al-Taif and nearby cities in Saudi Arabia with TEM and CTX-M subtypes being the most commonly detected variants. There was evidence of a polymorphic genetic pattern among ESBL-producing bacteria.