Microbes and Infectious Diseases 2022; Article-In-Press, DOI: 10.21608/mid.2022.145897.1329 Microbes and Infectious Diseases Journal homepage: https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/ DOI: 10.21608/MID.2022.145897.1329 * Corresponding author: Jude Yunzoom Nkup E-mail address: jnkup@yahoo.com © 2020 The author (s). Published by Zagazig University. This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Original article Molecular detection of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens in Jos, Nigeria Jude Yunzoom Nkup *1 , Sarah Anzahi Joseph 1 , Yusuf Amuda Agabi 1 , Veronica David 1 , Zakari Hashimu 1 , Caroline Chiamaka Madubulum 1 , Amanyi David 2 , Ujah Otobo 3,4 , Gloria Albert Goyil 1 , Nanya Amos Cirfat 1 , Joseph Aje Anejo-Okopi 1 , Samirah Awak David 1 1- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria. 2- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria. 3- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. 4- College of Public Health, The University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. Introduction Antimicrobials have been considered to be on the losing side in the therapeutic battle against pathogenic microorganisms; however, carbapenems which are regarded as the drug of last resort are the preference for severe infections caused by antimicrobial resistant strains [1]. The genus Klebsiella belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family and comprises of gram negative opportunistic non A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 20 June 2022 Received in revised form 6 August 2022 Accepted 7 August 2022 Keywords: Carbapenem Resistance Klebsiella Pneumoniae Jos A B S T R A C T Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is among the most frequent opportunistic pathogens causing wide range of infections and the emergence and spread of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are problems currently threatening global health. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and to detect carbapenem resistance genes in Jos, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 19 clinical specimens were collected from Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Jos, Nigeria. Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified by cultural and biochemical methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were tested for carbapenemase production and blaKPC, blaVIM,and blaNDM genes using Modified Hodges Test and multiplex PCR respectively. Results: Of the 19 clinical specimens examined, 8(42.10%) were positive for Klebsiella pneumonia and most of the isolates were recovered from urine 5(62.50%), followed by sputum 2(25.00%) and isolates from wounds swab recorded the lowest occurrence, 1(12.50%). Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that isolates were highly resistant to gentamicin (62.50%), ceftriaxone (50.00%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (62.50%), ciprofloxacin (37.50%), cefepime (62.50%), clarithromycin (50.00%) and meropenem 3(37.50%). Polymerase chain reaction screening for blaKPC, blaVIM,and blaNDM genes which code for carbapenemases among the 3 meropenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were not detected. Conclusion: The expression of high phenotypic antibiotic resistance recorded in this study could be suggestive of other resistance genes which this study was limited for. Therefore, monitoring of carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with the aim of screening other antibiotic resistance genes is strongly recommended.