Prevalence of Tem Gene among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from the Microbiology Laboratory

Abstract

Introduction Presently, antimicrobial resistance to various drug classes has been noted as a major global health threat. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBLs) are derived from genes for the narrow-spectrum beta-lactamases (TEM-1, TEM-2, or SHV-1) by mutations that alter the amino acid configuration around the enzyme active site. The world prevalence of community and hospital-acquired ESBL-Enterobacteriaceae has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance and hence made treatment of hospital and community acquired diseases very difficult and yet little research has been carried out to determine the genes that cause the resistance. Aim To determine the prevalence of TEM resistance gene in E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates obtained from the microbiology laboratory Makerere College of Health Sciences. Methodology 46 random Enterobacteriaceae isolates were collected from the microbiology laboratory. Disk diffusion susceptibility test was done using cefotaxime (30 µg) and ceftazidime/clavulanate (30/10µg) to determine antimicrobial resistance. DNA was extracted from the isolates using the conventional CTAB method. Conventional PCR method was applied to amplify the TEM gene. Results A total of 46 samples were obtained from the Makerere clinical microbiology laboratory and of these 21 samples were positive for the TEM gene. This represents 45.65% of our sample population. Conclusion This study revealed a high prevalence of TEM gene from the clinical isolates received in the Clinical Microbiology laboratory at the college of Health sciences.