DRUG RESISTANCE IN ESCHERICHIA COLI AND KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE ISOLATES FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTHERN INDIA AND THERAPEUTIC ALTERNATIVES

Dr. Divya Chauhan* and Dr. Santwana Verma

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance is a global concern, but a major threat in India where antibiotic policies are either non-existent or poorly implemented at hospital. Among the Enterobacteracea family Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the major pathogens which are usually isolated from all specimens and also reported as Extended Spectrum β-lactamase producers and muldidrug resistant. In such situation carbapenams serve as the drugs of choice but recently resistance has been reported even to these due to the excessive misuse of these agents. Therefore various therapeutic alternatives such as aminoglycosides and piperacillin/tazobactum which show good susceptibility towards these microbes should be considered to reduce the load of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.