Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Neonatal Sepsis Cases at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

Neonatal sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading contributor to neonatal mortality in Nigeria, with multidrug-resistant strains increasingly limiting effective treatment options in resource-constrained nurseries. This study determines the antibiotic resistance patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from neonatal sepsis cases at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North West Nigeria. Blood culture samples were collected from 80 neonates diagnosed with sepsis in the special care baby unit over eight months. Klebsiella pneumoniae was identified by standard cultural and biochemical methods, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested using disk diffusion against 12 antibiotics. ESBL production was confirmed using the combined disk test. Klebsiella pneumoniae accounted for 38 percent of all sepsis isolates. ESBL-producing strains were confirmed in 54 percent of Klebsiella isolates. Resistance to ampicillin, cefuroxime, and cotrimoxazole exceeded 80 percent. Imipenem and meropenem remained the most effective agents, though two carbapenem-resistant isolates were detected. Preterm birth, prolonged rupture of membranes, and prior antibiotic exposure were significantly associated with drug-resistant Klebsiella sepsis. The study reveals a critical drug resistance burden in the UDUTH neonatal unit and advocates for blood culture-guided therapy, stringent neonatal unit infection control, and antimicrobial stewardship programme implementation. Keywords: Klebsiella pneumoniae, neonatal sepsis, ESBL, UDUTH Sokoto, antimicrobial resistance