Biofilm Formation and its Correlation with ESBL Production in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Klebsiella pneumoniae, an important biofilm forming organism found to be responsible for a wide range of infections especially when they grow as biofilm. . Biofilm formation facilitates their survival in a hostile environment of host immune system and antimicrobials. ESBL producing K. pneumoniae isolates had a greater ability to form biofilm than non biofilm producing isolates. As there is hardly any literature found regarding the correlation between biofilm production and drug resistance in respect to ESBL production by the isolates of K. pneumoniae in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka, the present study has been conducted. A total of 347 isolates of K. pneumoniae collected between June 2012 and October 2014 were characterized according to standard microbiological procedures. Detection of biofilm was done by tissue culture plate method. Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the bio film producing strains was determined by the standard Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and presumptive ESBL production by double disk synergy test (DDST). Results Out of a total of 347 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 167 isolates (48.13 %) were found to be biofilm producers. Out of a total of 183 resistant strains of isolates of K. pneumoniae screened, 93 (50.81 %) were ESBL producers and 70 (75.26 %) of 93 ESBL producers were biofilm producers. ESBL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates (75.26 %) had an exceptional capacity to form biofilm, in comparison with non ESBL forming K. pneumoniae (24.74 %).