Background: Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae have been difficult to control because of the worldwide emergence of carbapenem-resistant isolates mainly due to carbapenemase production. Information regarding carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae is still scarce in Ethiopia. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae and to assess the occurrence of blaNDM and blaKPC carbapenemase genes.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019 at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 132 non-duplicate K. pneumoniae isolates were studied. Phenotypic confirmation of carbapenemase production was done by modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (mCIM). Multiplex PCR was performed for the detection of carbapenemase-encoding genes blaKPC, and blaNDM.
Results: Out of the total 132 K. pneumoniae isolates, 39 (29.6%) were non-susceptible to one or more carbapenems. The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing isolates from the total was 28 (21.2%) with mCIM of which the most dominant gene was blaNDM 26 (92.9%) and one isolate carried blaKPC concomitantly. Carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were 100% non-susceptible to half of the antimicrobials used in the study, including meropenem and ertapenem. Previous use of carbapenems was associated with carbapenemase production (P = 0.004).
Conclusions: The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates was worrying in the study area. To our knowledge, the study described the emergence of blaNDM and blaKPC gene carrying K. pneumoniae in Ethiopia for the first time. Further large-scale molecular-based studies, including other carbapenemase genes and sequencing of K. pneumoniae, are warranted to have a clear awareness about the presence of antimicrobial resistance high-risk clones in Ethiopia.