Abstract

Laboratory Survey Of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Isolates In Selected Tertiary Hospitals In South-Eastern Nigeria

Author(s):Ugah Uchenna Iyioku,Udeani Theophilus Kachidelu

Objective: Carbapenems are broad spectrum β-lactam antibiotics that were introduced in response to the
emergence of ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria. This study aimed at determining the occurence of
carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales isolates among patients attending five tertiary hospitals with southeastern
region of Nigeria. Methods: A total of 400 Enterobacterales were isolated from different participants.
Carbapenem-resistance was detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with ertapenem, meropenem,
imipenem, and doripenem. Results: A total of 117 isolates (29.2%) were resistant to the four carbapenems.
When compared among the states, the prevalence were 33.6%, 29.1%, 28.8%, 26.9% and 24.7% for Enugu,
Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra and Abia states respectively. The highest resistance was observed among P. mirabilis
(52.6%) followed by K. oxytoca (35.7%), S. enterica (35.7%) and K. pneumoniae (33.8%). Conclusion: The
overall prevalence was high and this is a cause for concern and urgent need for emergency intervention to
forestall widespread emergence of pandrug resistant infections.

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