Pseudomonas
spp. and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
are common causes of serious health care associated
infections (HCAIs) worldwide. The treatment options for infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR)
organisms are limited to tigecycline and carbapenems. A total of 172 isolates of multi-drug resistant
Pseudomonas spp and extended-spectrum β- (ESBL) producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from clinical
specimens at the Bugando Medical Centre were tested for their
in vitro susceptibility to piperacillin-tazobactam
100/10μg using disc diffusion test as recommended by Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Out of 59
multi-drug resistant
Pseudomonas spp, 54 (92.0%) were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam while of 113 ESBL
producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae, 55 (48.7%) were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam 100/10μg. Also, 20
(34.0%) of the
Pseudomonas spp were both ESBL producers and susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam 100/10μg.
A significant proportion of
Pseudomonas spp isolates from clinical specimens in our setting are susceptible to
piperacillin/tazobactam. This study shows that piperacillin-tazobactam offer a better option to clinicians for the
treatment of health care associated infections due to
Pseudomonas spp. and ESBL producing Klebsiella
pneumoniae in our setting and other health facilities where these organisms are of significance.
