Detection of Quinolone Resistance Genes and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) Index of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from urine in Sokoto, Nigeria

Introduction: Globally, antimicrobial resistance is a foremost public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index is helpful in analyzing health risk, as well as to check the extent of antibiotic resistance.Methodology: About four hundred (400) clinical isolates of members of the of the family Enterobacterales were isolated from urine specimens of inpatients and outpatients submitted for routine culture and susceptibility testing at the Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Isolates were identified using colonial morphology and standard biochemical test. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using modified Kirby bauer disc diffusion method. The quinolone resistance genes ware detected using Polymerase Chain Reaction.Result: The isolates were recovered from adult patients with age range between 18-75 years. Majority of the patients were females (60%). The prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 8.75%. and the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Klebsiella pneumoniae were classified as either “resistant”, “intermediate” or “susceptible.” It exhibited high levels of resistance to certain antibiotics. Ampicillin showed the highest resistance rate at 26(74.3%), followed closely by Amoxicillin-clavulanate and Ceftriaxone 24(68.6%), Ciprofloxacin 22(62.9%), Gentamicin 20(57.1%), Ceftazidime 19(54.3%), and Levofloxacin 20(55.1%). Amikacin appeared to be the most sensitive drug at 21(60%); then followed by Meropenem at 19(54.3%). The MAR of the isolate ranges from 0.29 for Meropenem to 0.74 for Penicillin G. quinolone resistance genes were detected in 4(11.4%) of the Ciprofloxacin resistance isolates.Conclusion: The irrational use of antimicrobials is certainly a complex and multifactorial problem in developing countries, and a proper understanding of the problem is necessary for effective control policies.