Transferable Antibiotic Resistance (R Factors) in a Newborn Ward

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant klebsiella, enterobacter and pseudomonas strains were isolated from nose and throat swabs of the patients in a newborn ward. Most of the patients received antibiotic treatment, while only few had manifest infection. R factors transferring resistance to several drugs were detected in 2 of the 26 klebsiella-enterobacter but in none of the 10 pseudomonas strains. The R factors occurred among strains with multiple resistance. The demonstration of R factors among these opportunistic bacteria adds to reasons against liberal use of antibiotics.