ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE GENES IN SHIGA-TOXIN PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM DIARRHOEIC AND NONDIARRHOEIC PAEDIATRIC PATIENTS IN ONDO-STATE NIGERIA.

Abstract

Investigations were carried out to evaluate antibiotic resistance genes in Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic paediatric patients aged < 1 to 16 years in Ondo State. Stool samples were collected from Seventy-eight (78) diarrhoeic and four hundred and forty-three (443) non-diarrhoeic patients making a total of 521 samples from paediatric patients in four specialist hospitas in Ondo State and community settings in Akure. The hospitals included State Specialist Hospitals in Akure, Ikare, Ondo and Okitipupa. The samples were cultured and isolates identified immediately using standard methods. Data obtained were statistically analysed using SPSS version 20. The bacteria isolated from the stool samples from the hospitals included; Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Clostridium botulinum, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus luteus, Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ps. fluorescens, Salmonella typhi, Serratia marcescens, Shigella dysentariae and Staphylococccus aureus and S. epidermidis. Those that were positive for E. coli were analyzed for antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Isolates with multiple antibiotic resistance were further analyzed for the presence of virulence genes. Forty-three (43) out of (78) samples from diarrhoeic patients harboured E. coli whereas 195 out of (443) from samples non-diarrhoeic patients harboured E. coli. In addition, children within age group 1-5 years had the highest occurrence rate of E. coli. The gene encoding Shiga- toxin and intimin virulent factors were detected. All the six (6) isolates tested for virulence factors (stx1, stx2 and eae), all the six (6) amplified for stx1 and stx2 while five (5) isolates amplified for eae gene encoding for intimin. In conclusion, this study was able to identify the different bacteria present in the stool samples of both diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic pediatric patients (<1 to 16years) in Ondo State. Findings also revealed that the STEC isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, Augmentin, Ciprofloxacin, Spectinomycin, and Septrin.