Original Articles
Vol. 98 No. 2 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.4081/jbr.2025.13803
Antibiotic resistance patterns of co-isolated Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.: a cross-sectional study on their association with antibiotic usage intensity
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Received: 9 March 2025
Accepted: 22 April 2025
Published: 16 May 2025
Accepted: 22 April 2025
Published: 16 May 2025
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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella spp. presents a growing public health concern, particularly in low-resource developing countries. However, data on their concurrent resistance patterns within the same host remain limited. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating the resistance profiles of co-isolated strains. In the context of this cross-sectional study E. coli and Klebsiella spp. were isolated from stool samples of 138 individuals attending Smart Health Tower, in Iraq. Samples were processed using standard microbiological protocols and identified through Gram staining and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Participants were categorized into low, moderate, and high antibiotic users based on their antibiotic usage patterns. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p<0.05. Among E. coli isolates, multidrug resistance was significantly more prevalent in high antibiotic users, with 38/46 (82.6%) exhibiting resistance, compared to 17/46 (37.0%) in moderate antibiotic users and 2/46 (4.3%) in low antibiotic users (p < 0.001). For Klebsiella spp. isolates, multidrug resistance was found in 36/46 (78.3%) of high antibiotic users. Klebsiella spp. showed higher resistance to Ampicillin-Sulbactam (59.9%) compared to E. coli (40.0%). Additionally, resistance to Gentamicin was more pronounced in Klebsiella spp. (80.0%) than in E. coli (20.0%). This study emphasizes the need for stricter antimicrobial stewardship in high antibiotic-use settings. The high multidrug resistance in E. coli and especially Klebsiella spp., necessitates targeted interventions to curb resistance and preserve antimicrobial efficacy.
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How to Cite
Antibiotic resistance patterns of co-isolated Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.: a cross-sectional study on their association with antibiotic usage intensity . (2025). Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino Della Società Italiana Di Biologia Sperimentale, 98(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/jbr.2025.13803
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