Antimicrobial Efficacy of Ginger Root Extracts on Carbapenemase Resistant Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated from Environmental Samples

The use of medicinal plant extracts as alternatives for the treatment of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriacea infections and the diseases caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria is important especially in underdeveloped nations. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial efficacy of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Zingiber officinale (Ginger) against carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, and E.coli. Fifty preidentified clinical isolates comprising of 25 K. pneumonia and E.coli each were recovered using Eosin Methylene Blue Agar following standard microbiological procedures. They were characterized biochemically using following the Bergey’s manual of Bacteriology. Isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test and Cabarpenem resistant screening using disc diffusion technique. The antibiotic susceptibility test against the isolates was carried out using 10 selected antibiotics. Fresh ginger plants were extracted using ethanol and methanol as solvents. In this study, out of Fifty (100%) environmental isolates that were resuscitated, there was an overall prevalence at 43(86%). Twenty-one (42%) were identified as E.coli and 22(44%) were identified as Klebsiella Spp. . There was an 100% resistance by Escherichia coli against Ampicillin, and Augmentin as compared to Cefotaxime which had the least resistance at 42%. Klebsiella Sp had the highest rate of resistance at 100% against Nitrofurantoin. The Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) result revealed 16(76%) and 15(68%) isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella Sp had multiple antibiotic resistance respectively. Out of the identified MDR isolates, 12(75%) E.coli and 12(80%) K.pneumonia were confirmed to be carbapenemase resistant. The methanolic extract against E.coli showed 9mm zone of inhibition at 400mg/ml compared to 3.6mm at 50mg/ml. K.pneumonia showed a zone of inhibition of 7.5mm at 100mg/ml as compared to 1.8mm for 50mg/ml. Ethanolic extract against E.coli showed 11mm zone of inhibition at 100mg/ml compared to 1.2mm at 50mg/ml. K.pneumoniae showed a zone of inhibition of 7.5mm at 100mg/ml as compared to 1.5mm for 400mg/ml. the isolates were susceptible to meropenem which was used as a control compared to the extracts. In conclusion, the extract were more active on klebsiella than E.coli isolates.