eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology 2373-6712 2021-08-17 9 1 22 27 10.12691/jaem-9-1-4 JAEM2021914 article Iloduba Nnaemeka Aghanya aghanyailoduba@gmail.com 1 Comfort Nne Akujobi 1 Simon Nkpeh Ushie 1 Chika Florence Ubajaka 2 Ijeoma Maryrose Ajuba 3 Chibuike Jesse Ezeama 3 Nkechi Perpetua Maduekwe 4 Ngozichukwu Gertrude Uzoewulu 4 Chisom Godswill Chigbo 5 Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus Department of Nursing Sciences, School of Nursing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka The acquisition of carbapenemase-producing organisms in healthcare settings is a significant threat and has dire implications for public health. Previous reports regarding carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from fomites are limited. This study aimed to analyse the antimicrobial resistance patterns and prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in the ward environments of a tertiary health institution in Nigeria.One hundred and forty-two bacteria were isolated from 534 fomites in the hospital wards, and out of these, 15(10.6%) were K. pneumoniae. Therefore, the prevalence of K. pneumoniae in all the samples was 15/534(2.8%), while that of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae was 8/534(1.5%). Multi-drug resistance was detected in 15/15(100%) of the K. pneumoniae isolated. All the K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefuroxime, and tetracycline. Although 8/15(53.3%) of the isolates were confirmed positive for carbapenemase production using the modified Hodge test, no Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase gene (blaKPC) was detected. The most frequent sites that harboured carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae were the beds 6/15(40%). Hence, the prevalence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae fomite colonisation in the NAUTH ward environment was low. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jaem/9/1/4/jaem-9-1-4.pdf multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase oxacillinase fomites