Background: To assess antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL-) producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates from Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), as well as to identify ESBL genes. Methods: Non-duplicate K. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates were recovered from various clinical samples. Isolates were screened for antimicrobial resistance by disc diffusion method. Isolates resistant to oxyimino-cephalosporins were subjected to phenotypic ESBL production. Detection of resistance genes was then performed using primers specific for ESBL genes (blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM). Results: Piperacillin/tazobactam and carbapenems remained the active β-lactam antibiotic against K. pneumoniae and E. coli. ESBLs were detected among 35.5% (39/110) of K. pneumoniae and 18.8% (28/149) of E. coli isolates. CTX-M β-lactamase was detected in 90% of all ESBL-positive isolates, whereas blaSHV and blaTEM genes were found among 56% and 52% of them, respectively. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of the total ESBL-positive isolates harboured the three ESBL genes, while 50% carried two of the tested ESBL genes. Conclusion: ESBLs encoded by at least one ESBL genes are frequently isolated among K. pneumoniae and E. coli in HTAA. The significant proportion rate of these resistant determinants is alarming, thus monitoring their transmission and dissemination is essential to control it at an early phase.

An antimicrobial compound has been isolated from the leaves of Glochidion superbum. The compound was determined as methyl 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoate (methyl gallate), based on ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy (MS) analysis. The isolated compound exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against three clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by qualitative agar disc diffusion method and quantitative broth dilution method. Agar disc diffusion was done in a dose-dependent manner for each bacterial isolate at disc potencies of 25, 50, 100, and 150 µg/disc. The zones of inhibition were on average equal to 12.27, 14.20, 15.43, and 24.17 mm respectively. The inhibition zones were compared with that of vancomycin disc at 30 µg as a reference standard. The MIC and MBC values were 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL respectively. The results of anti MRSA activity were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Turkey's HSD and Duncan test. In conclusion, methyl gallate which was isolated from G. superbum showed the inhibition activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus.
Agar ; Diffusion ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Methods ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus* ; Vancomycin