Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2013) 2(8): 330-337 330 Original Research Article Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from urine samples C.Manikandan* and A.Amsath P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, Khadir Mohideen College, Adirampattinam-614701, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding author e-mail: drmanikandan66@gmail.com ABSTRACT Introduction Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases (Kolawale et al., 2009; Delanghe et al., 2000; Hryniewicz et al., 2000). They may be symptomatic or asymptomatic, and either type of infection can result in serious sequelae if not appropriately treated (Pezzlo, 1988). Although different causative agents can be responsible for UTIs, bacteria are the major cause being responsible for more than 95% of UTI cases (Bonadio et al., 2001). Antimicrobial chemotherapy has been a leading cause for the dramatic rise of average life expectancy in the Twentieth ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 8 (2013) pp. 330-337 http://www.ijcmas.com Keywords Urine infection; Antimicrobial susceptibility; Resistant; Disk diffusion methods; antimicrobial resistance ;Klebsiella species. Urinary tract Infection (UTI) is among the most common infections described in outpatient setting and hospital patients. Klebsiella species isolated from urine samples from Gangasaras Diagnostic and Research Centre, Pattukkottai, Tamilnadu, were studied to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Between January 2012 and December 2012, a total of 2400 specimens processed in the laboratory, of which 72 (11.2%) yielded Klebsiella species, from outpatients and inpatients. Organisms were identified by conventional methods. Klebsilla species were isolated mostly from female urine specimens. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done by the disk diffusion methods. The antimicrobial disk used include: amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, imipenem, nitrofurantoin, and cotrimoxazole. All were Himedia products. Antimicrobial susceptibility to various group drugs used was generally poor. The most sensitive antimicrobial was amikacin and imipenem with 62 (86.1%) isolates susceptible to it, followed by gentamicin and tobramycin with 58 (80.6%), ofloxacin with 57 (79.2%), ciprofloxacin with 55 (76.4%). 30 (41.7%) isolates were multiresistant to all the antimicrobial agents used. The result of this study will help in the empiric therapy of infection caused by Klebsiella species in Tamil Nadu State, but continuous surverillance of antimicrobial resistance of the organism is very necessary in the formulation of a sound antibiotic policy in the hospital. .