Background: Klebsiella spp. are Enterobacteriaceae frequently isolated from pathological specimens during
urinary tract infections, bloodstream infection, and pus. They are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics
and challenging treatment options. β-lactamases are a great variety of enzymes capable of inducing resistance to βlactams. The objective of this study was to identify extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL) genes in Klebsiella spp.
strains isolated from various specimens in Lomé, Togo.
Methods: Sixty-four strains of Klebsiella spp. were isolated from different pathological specimens. They were
then further characterized and tested against 3rd generation cephalosporin (ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime)
and aztreonam. The detection of blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M was performed on these strains using simplex and
multiplex PCR techniques.
Results: Fifty five (85.94%) Klebsiella pneumoniae and 9 (14.06%) Klebsiella oxytoca were isolated. These
strains derived from urine (n=33; 51.56%), vaginal swabs (n=21; 32.81%), pus (n=8; 12.5%) and sperm samples
(n=2; 3.13%). All strains were resistant to cefepime. The resistance rate to other β-lactams was 29.69% (19/64) for
piperacillin-tazobactam, 23.08% (12/52) for cefoxitin and 1.56% (1/64) for imipenem. Other inactive antibiotics were
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 96.72% (59/61), doxycycline 92.06% (58/63), ciprofloxacin 90.63% (58/64), nalidixic
acid 80.95% (51/63), chloramphenicol 77.42% (48/62) and gentamicin 76.69% (51/64). Amikacin and fosfomycin
remained the most active antibiotics with 1.56% (1/64) and 4.69% (3/64) resistance rates respectively. ESBL genes
were detected in 63/64 (98.44%) strains. TEM/SHV/CTX-M was predominant 61.90% (39/63) followed by TEM/SHV
20.63% (13/63), SHV/CTX-M 11.11% (7/63), TEM/SHV 4.76% (3/63) and TEM 1.59% (1/63).
Conclusion: ESBL genes occur more by combination 96.88% (62/64) than singularly 1.59% (1/63). These
strains were also very resistant to quinolones and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These findings are of high
importance in a medical and scientific perspective and may motivate decision makers towards a better monitoring
and control of antimicrobial resistance in Togo.

Klebsiella spp; Antimicrobial resistance; ESBL; TEM; SHV; CTX-M; Togo