Molecular detection of extended spectrum β-lactamase genes in Escherichia coli clinical isolates from diarrhoeic children in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in antimicrobial resistance in developed and developing countries is a global public health challenge. In this context β-lactamase production is a major contributing factor to resistance globally. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in 296 E. coli isolates recovered from diarrhoeic children younger than five years in Kano whose susceptibility profile against 7 antimicrobials had been determined. The E. coli isolates were subjected to double disc synergy test for phenotypic ESBLs detection and ESBL associated genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM and blaSHV) were detected using conventional PCR. Phenotypically, 12.8% (38/296) E. coli isolates presented a ESBLs phenotype, with a significantly higher proportion in isolates from females compared with males (P-value = 0.024). blaCTX-M 73.3% and blaTEM 73.3% were the predominant resistance genes in the ESBLs positive E. coli (each detected in 22/30 isolates, of which 14 harboured both). In addition, 1/30 harboured blaCTX-M + blaTEM + blaSHV genes simultaneously. This study demonstrates the presence of ESBLs E. coli isolates in clinically affected children in Kano, and demonstrates the circulation of blaCTX-M and blaTEM associated with those phenotypes. Enactment of laws on prudent antibiotic use is urgently needed in Kano.

Diarrhoeagenic E. coli occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases isolated from diarrhoea patients attending health facilities in Accra, Ghana

“…This is indicative of a gradual narrowing of the most routinely prescribed and readily available treatment options for diarrhoea in the country due to the selective pressure that may have been placed on these antibiotics over the years, as well as the over-the-counter availability of some these antibiotics as well [ 39 ]. Our findings in relation to MDR occurrence and the various classes of AMR was consistent with similar findings from Ethiopia [ 38 ], Tanzania [ 37 , 39 ], Nigeria [ 40 ] and Chad [ 14 ]. Decreased resistance to meropenem, a major public health concern in Ghana was observed in the study.…”

“…pneumoniae and other organisms such as Proteus spp, Citrobacter spp and Enterobacter spp among blood, serum, stool, surgical site infections, sputum among others [ 15 , 19 , 22 , 33 – 35 ]. Occurrence of the types of ESBL pathogens mentioned in this study is however consistent with the already existing and circulating pathogens that have been reported worldwide and a clear indication of diarrhoea surveillance as a means of identifying various types of AMR genes [ 25 , 30 , 32 , 36 – 40 ].…”

“…Despite the low numbers of infants and children that were recruited during the study, 7 out of 23 isolates were ESBL causing diarrhoea as compared to 12 ESBLs from a total of 75 isolates of the adults. Children have shown high ESBL fecal carriage in several studies that have been conducted in Ghana and Nigeria [ 18 , 33 , 37 , 40 ]. This could be attributed to a difference in health care seeking behaviour in relation to diarrhoea treatment in children and partly due to availability of over-the-counter medication/without prescription.…”

“…Other Ghanaian studies had earlier indicated CTX-M gene to be the most frequent ESBL type occurring among ESBL-producing bacteria [ 18 , 35 , 43 ]. Diarrhoea-related ESBL studies in other countries have also reported CTX-M to be more frequent than the other ESBL types [ 30 , 37 , 40 ]. The TEM gene on the other hand also showed the highest occurrence in the study.…”

Different Responses of ESBL Indicative Peptide Spectra to Various β- Lactam Exposures Among Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infected Escherichia coli by Using the MALDI-TOF Technique

“…They can hydrolyze penicillins, cephalosporins and monobactams but not carbapenems. ESBLs, which hydrolyze β-lactam rings in cephalosporins and penicillins, play a major role in antibiotic resistance among the majority of E. coli strains (Saka et al, 2020). However, we were unable to indicate whether E. coli produced the same ESBL against each antibiotic agent.…”