Author(s)

Emilia Enjema Lyonga Mbamyah^1,2*, Mangum Patience Kumcho³, Michel Toukam¹, Dieudonné Sedena⁴, Florence Anjabie Enyeji¹, Aime-Caesar Teukam¹, Modestine Djuissi¹, Martha Tongo Mesembe², George Mondinde Ikomey^1,2, Agnes Bedie Eyoh², Hortense Kamga Gonsu^1,5

¹Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.
²Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.
³Department of Microbiology, School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon.
⁴Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵Bacteriology Unit, Yaounde University Teaching Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Background: Klebsiella spp. are bacteria of medical importance for their role in opportunistic infections which are often difficult to treat because of resistance to one or several antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial resistance due to Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL), Class C cephalosporinase (AmpC) and carbapenemase enzymes in Klebsiella spp. isolated from patients consulted at four hospitals. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive. A total of 4190 non-repetitive patients’ specimens from 13 types of clinical specimens were analysed from February to November 2020. Two hundred and twenty-five (225) Klebsiella spp isolates were identified using API 20E and antimicrobial susceptibility testing done according to the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL and AmpC phenotypes were determined by the combination disc method and carbapenemases by double disc synergy method, referenced by EUCAST guidelines for the resistance testing. Results: The frequency of the species was Klebsiella pneumoniae (69%, 155/255), K. oxytoca (14%, 31/255), K. ozaenae (12%, 27/225) and K. rhinoscleromatis (5%, 11/225). Isolates were most resistant to sulphomethoxazole trimethoprim (84%, 189/225), cepaholosporins (80%, 180/225), and least resistant to carbapenems (10.7%, 24/225). Two K. oxytoca and one K. pneumoniae were resistant to all antibiotics tested. Klebsiella pneumoniae had the most multidrug resistant isolates (59.4%, 134/225). Most isolates (83.6%, 188/225) expressed at least one enzyme, while 63.6% (143/225) of the isolates expressed at least two enzymes. Some isolates were ESBL (71.6%, 161/225), carbapenemase (10.7%, 24/225) and AmpC (6.6%, 15/225) producers. Three carbapenemases (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-KPC, Metallo-Beta Lactamase-MBL and OXA-48) were detected. Conclusion: These results revealed that resistance of Klebsiella spp. to cephalosporins is high and this may be exacerbated by co-expression of AmpC and carbapenemases aggravating associated patient morbidity and mortality. Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance of local strains is necessary for informed decisions on empirical treatment.

Klebsiella Spp., Multidrug Resistance, ESBL, AmpC, Carbapenemase

Mbamyah, E. , Kumcho, M. , Toukam, M. , Sedena, D. , Enyeji, F. , Teukam, A. , Djuissi, M. , Mesembe, M. , Ikomey, G. , Eyoh, A. and Gonsu, H. (2024) Phenotypic Characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase, Class C Cephalosporinase and Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella Species Isolated from Patients Consulted at Four Yaounde-Based Hospitals . Open Journal of Medical Microbiology, 14, 105-119. doi: 10.4236/ojmm.2024.142009.