Phenotypic and molecular characterisation of esbl producing bacteria in a tertiary care microbiology laboratory in Sri Lanka

Introduction: Extremely high prevalence of clinically significant multi-resistant Gram-negative bacteria harbouring extended spectrum beta latamase (ESBL) and metallo- betalactamases (MBL) pose significant therapeutic challenge to clinicians in Sri Lanka. Only a handful of studies have characterised locally prevalent ESBLs.