Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 17-24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260403
Pattern of Antibiotic Susceptibility Among Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Assam
Tonushyam Sonowal1, Nayanjyoti Sarmah2, Rohan Raj Kutum3, Ranjita Khandait4, Subhrendu S Sen5, Migom Doley6
1Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam
2Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India
3Demonstrator, Dept. of Microbiology, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India
4Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India
5Professor & Head, Dept. of Microbiology, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India
6Associate Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam, India
Corresponding Author: Dr Tonushyam Sonowal
ABSTRACT
Background: K. pneumoniae frequently offers a major health risk to patients since there are few available treatments, and it can develop multidrug-resistant (MDR). Therefore, identifying the frequency and patterns of antibiotic susceptibility of K. pneumoniae isolates from clinical specimens is crucial for the diagnosis and management of patients.
Aim: Finding the susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from clinical samples.
Materials and methods: From January 2024 to December 2025, a retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at microbiology department, Lakhimpur Medical and Hospital, North Lakhimpur, Assam. Using a data collecting sheet, laboratory and socio demographic information was gathered from registered books and data record system. Using conventional protocols, all the clinical samples and processed. Gram stain, colony characterisation on culture media, and a number of biochemical tests were used to identify K. pneumoniae. The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and VITEK system was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Results: A total of 1235 (24.9%) of the 4768 clinical specimens tested positive for bacteria, of which 131 (9.4%) were isolates of K. pneumoniae. Most of them were from adults, and they were mostly isolated from urine samples (64%). In our analysis, we found that K. pneumoniae was resistant to ampicillin (70%), cefuroxime (42%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (12%), piperacillin/tazobactam (15%), ceftazidime (7.6%), cefotaxime (38%), and cotrimoxazole (25%). Additionally, the rates of nitrofurantoin and ciprofloxacin resistance were 21%, and 26%, respectively. Multidrug resistance has been found in 58 (45%) Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Beta-lactamases were detected in 42 (72%) of the 58 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. Using phenotypic techniques, 15 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were positive for the synthesis of AmpC.
Conclusion: The severity of MDR K. pneumoniae was really concerning. Thus, it is highly advised that antimicrobial surveillance procedures and antimicrobial stewardship programs be strengthened in the study area.
Key words: Antimicrobial susceptibility; Assam, K. pneumoniae; Tertiary care hospital,