International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 107 Vol.6; Issue: 3; March 2016 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571 Original Research Article Prevalence of Beta-Lactamases in Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolates at Tertiary Care Hospital Anupama S.Wyawahare 1 , Sayyad Mariya 2 , Sunil S.Hatkar 2 1 Professor, Department of Microbiology, MGM Medical College, Aurangabad-431001. 2 Assistant Professor, Dept of Microbiology, IIMSR Medical College, Aurangabad-Jalna Road Warudi-432002. Corresponding Author: Sunil S.Hatkar Received: 27/01/2016 Revised: 18/02/2016 Accepted: 19/02/2016 ABSTRACT Objectives: Resistance to third generation cephalosporins in E. coli and K. pneumoniae are due to various factors. Present study was an attempt to detect resistance mediated by beta-lactamases production. Methods: A total of 300 uropathogenic E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were further subjected to detection of beta-lactamases by disc diffusion method. Result: A total of 300 urinary isolates were studied, out of these 189 isolates were beta-lactamases producer. Out of 189, E. coli shown to have beta-lactamases production in 144 isolates while 45 isolates of K. pneumoniae were beta-lactamases producer. Conclusion: The prevalence of resistance mediated by beta-lactamase production is increasing day by day and varies from different geographical areas; hence it should be mandatory to detect beta- lactamases on routine basis. Keywords: E. coli, K. pneumoniae, beta-lactamases. INTRODUCTION Urinary tract infection forms the largest single group of hospital acquired infections and accounts for about 45-50% of total nosocomial infections. [1] It results in significant morbidity and high medical cost. [2] Escherichia coli account for approximately 80% of the Urinary tract infections. Klebsiella species accounts for approximately 17% of the nosocomial urinary tract infections. [3] Urinary tract infections are often treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. [4,5] Cephalosporins are used in the treatment of urinary tract infections. [6] Gram negative organisms exhibit resistance to antimicrobial agents through various mechanisms like target site modification, altered PBP, poor diffusion or altered porins, active efflux mechanism, and producing inactivating enzymes. [7] Among different mechanisms of resistance beta- lactamase induced resistance play a predominant role and threatens the therapeutic efficacy of antibiotics. [8] ESBL represent a major group of beta-lactamases currently being identified in large numbers and are now found in significant percentage in Escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumoniae strains. [9] Microorganisms responsible for urinary tract infections such as Escherichia coli and klebsiella species have ability to produce ESBL in large quantities. [10]