MHT-Based Screening of Carbapenem Resistance in Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae has emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen, especially among critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs).The rising incidence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains, especially those resistant to carbapenems, poses a serious challenge to infection management.Objectives: This study's objectives were to use the Modified Hodge Test to identify Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that could produce carbapenemase, assess their pattern of antibiotic resistance, and highlight the importance of routine phenotypic detection techniques in labs with limited diagnostic resources.Materials and Methods: A total of 15 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from ICU patients at KLE's Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi.Antimicrobial resistance patterns were determined by the disk diffusion technique following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) protocols, while carbapenemase activity was screened using the Modified Hodge Test.Results: 12 (80%) of the 15 isolates tested positive for carbapenemase production by MHT, while 3 isolates maintained broad-spectrum sensitivity, while the other isolates displayed a variety of resistance profiles.The high percentage of MHT-positive result indicates a substantial presence of carbapenem-resistant strains in the clinical setting. Conclusion:The high frequency of Klebsiella pneumoniae that produces carbapenemase emphasizes the urgent need of improved infection control protocols and frequent screening.Even though MHT has drawbacks, its affordability and simplicity of use make it useful tool for early detection in situations where access to molecular diagnostics is limited.