Abstract:
Background and Objective: The antibiogram of the various species of Klebsiella implicated
in many infections in Ghana are not known. This study was designed to determine the antibiogram of
the various species of Klebsiella isolated from clinical samples in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
(KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana.
Materials and Methods: 2197 clinical specimens from the hospital were cultured on blood agar and
MacConkey agar and the isolates investigated. The antibiogram of the various Klebsiella species
isolated were determined and compared with antibiotics chosen for empirical treatment of 51 paediatric
patients in the hospital.
Results: Klebsiella species were recovered from 205 clinical samples (9.3% prevalence rate) with K.
pneumoniae being the highest recovered species (74.1%), followed by K. oxytoca (24.4%), K.
rhinoscleromatis (1%) and K. ozaenae (0.5%). Amikacin was the most potent (80%) against the
recovered species whilst cefotaxime, ceftriaxone and gentamicin exhibited approximately 60%
potencies. Cefuroxime and ampicillin on the other hand were respectively 75% and 100% resistant.
Conclusion: The dominant species of Klebsiella infections were K. pnuemoniae and K. oxytoca. The
third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were the potent antibiotics for treatment of
Klebsiella infections reported in KATH
