The occurrence and antibiotic resistance pattern of Klebsiella isolates in burn patients in the North of Iran

Abstract

Klebsiella species are one the common bacterial etiology of burn related infections that may cause serious life threaten complications in patients. Antibiotic resistance challenge in recent years associated with increased mortality and treatment costs. Therefore, in order to optimize infection control policy and help with epidemiological data, the present study investigates the occurrence and antibiotic resistance pattern of Klebsiella isolates in burn patients in the North of Iran. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on burn patients hospitalized from March 2018 to March 2021 at Velayat Subspecialty Burn and Plastic Surgery Hospital in Rasht, the North of Iran. Standard microbiological producers were applied for the isolation and identification of Klebsiella isolates. Antibiotic resistance patterns were determined using the disk diffusion method. Of 594 clinical specimens, 61 cases (10.3%) were positive for Klebsiella. Among them, 42 samples (68.9%) were collected from intensive care units (ICUs) and 19 cases (31.1%) from internal wards. Also, 5 patients (8.2%) were related to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The highest level of antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella isolates was toward imipenem (85.7%) and gentamicin (69.1%), respectively. While the highest level of susceptibility was to meropenem (63.6%). Regarding the significant prevalence and antibiotic resistance of in Klebsiella isolates among burn patients, more strict infection treatment protocols based on laboratory results can prevent increased antibiotic resistance.