Prevalence of AmpC type extended spectrum beta lactamases genes in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae

β-lactam antimicrobial agents represent the most common treatment for bacterial infections and continue to be the leading cause of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics among Gram negative bacteria world wide. Extended –spectrum β-lactamases(ESBLs) enzyme hydrolyze and inactivated β-lactam antibiotics. AmpC enzymes are in class C of ESBLs. Typical Ampc enzymes as clavulanate resistant cephalosporinases confer resistance to most oxyimino cephalosporins. AmpC enzymes are counted separately from ESBLs, but a taxonomic problem arises with AmpC mutants that have increased activity against cefepime and cefepirome, fourth generation of cephalosporins. Such mutants have arisen from inherent chromosomal AmpC types, but they could equally evolve from the plasmid AmpC types that are increasingly circulating in Klebsiella spp and E. coli. The aim of this study was to determine the Prevalenceof AmpC type extended spectrum beta lactamases genes in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Phenotypic detection of ESBLs was used for screening of isolates by agar dilution method. The multiplex PCR assay was used for detection of AmpC genes in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Of 168 clinical isolates, 119 isolates were positive for ESBL in initial screening tests and from them 99 isolates were positive in phenotypic confirmatory tests.10 isolates (5/95 %) were positive for AmpC genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. In this study, the existence of ESBLs and AmpC genes in clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae was shown.