Background and aims: Klebsiella strains, particularly Klebsiella pneumonia, are opportunistic pathogens that contribute to developing urinary tract infections (UTIs) as the most prevalent infection in humans. This study was aimed to study antibiotic resistance of ESBL-producing Klebsiella strains isolated from UTI of inpatients and outpatients referring teaching hospitals in Shahrekord in 2013-2014.

Methods: The present study was conducted in 2013-2014 on 150 Klebsiella isolates from UTI of inpatients and outpatients. The isolates were identified by conduction of diagnostic, biochemical tests and use of differential media. ESBL-producing organisms were identified by screening and confirmed phenotypic tests. To investigate the pattern of antibiotic resistance, diffusion disk was used.

Results: Out of total 150 isolates from UTI, the frequency of ESBL-producing strains in hospitalized patients and outpatients referring the teaching hospitals in Shahrekord was reported 64% and 48%, respectively. Findings of Antibiotic resistance pattern  in hospitalized patients and outpatients were reported 49% and 31% for amikacin, 61% and 52% for trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, 59% and 39% for gentamicin, 55% and 32% for nitrofurantoin, 59% and 44% for norfloxacin, 72% and 53% for nalidixic acid, 45% and 33% for cefepime, 8% and 3% for imipenem, 41% and 35% for ceftriaxone, 60% and 48% for ciprofloxacin, and 64% and 48%, respectively.

Conclusion: According to the present study, the Klebsiella strains isolated from UTIs of inpatients produced more ESBL, which could be due to excessive and repeated use of third generation cephalosporins and no diagnosis of ESBL-producing Klebsiella strains in healthcare environments.