Biofilm formation and extended spectrum beta-lactamase production in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from respiratory samples in a tertiary care hospital

Nosocomial and community acquired infections are being caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) worldwide. K. pneumoniae among gram negative organisms is an important bacterium responsible for site specific infection when they grow as biofilm. Survival of K. pneumoniae is facilitated by biofilm formation that makes it easier to multiply and spread to various sites. Extended–spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing K. pneumoniae isolates from respiratory samples were used to know the occurrence of biofilm formation conducted in a tertiary care medical college hospital in Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, India. To know the occurrence of biofilm formation among extended–spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing K. pneumoniae isolates from respiratory samples a prospective study has been conducted in a tertiary care medical college hospital in Mangalore, Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, India. A total of 87 K. pneumoniae isolates from respiratory samples were characterized according to standard microbiological specific procedures. Screening was done for K. pneumonia Biofilm formation in terms of their antibiotic sensitivity pattern by using standard Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and presumptive ESBL production by double disk synergy test (DDST). Out of 87 clinical isolates from respiratory samples, 45 (51.72%) were found to be biofilm producers. 29 (33.33%) isolates were ESBL producers and all them produced biofilm. ESBL forming K. pneumoniae isolates had a significantly greater capacity to form strong biofilm (72.4%) than non ESBL producing K. pneumoniae isolates (27.58%).