Resistance Pattern and Plasmid Profile of E. coli Isolated from Diarrhoeic Children in Selected Health Centres in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Methodology: A total of 236 stool samples were collected from diarrhoeic children of age ≤5 years from selected Hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria. Isolation and identification of E. coli strains were carried out using standard methods and procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disc-diffusion method. Plasmid extraction was carried out using alkaline lysis method while curing of the plasmid harbouring strains was done using standard curing technique. Results: The result showed that 96 (41%) of the bacteria were E. coli, all of which were resistant to ampicillin and augmentin. The resistance to antibiotics shows 19 different resistance patterns. Sixtyone point five (61.5%) were multidrug resistant (MDR). Majority 9/10 (90%) of the MDR isolates harboured plasmids, with size ranging from 6.0 to 20 kb. All the cured strains were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and ceftazidime indicating that resistance to these antibiotics was plasmid mediated.Conclusion: E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic children in selected Health centres, demonstrated a significant antibiotic resistance and they harboured plasmids of diverse sizes.

Escherichia coli as Possible Agents of Spread of Multidrug Resistance in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

“…Results of this research show that a high degree of ceftazidime resistance in the test isolates was plasmid mediated. Similar to this study, two other studies involving plasmid curing had reported that highest levels of change in resistance occurred in ceftazidime specifically or cephalosporins in general (Awopeju et al, 2015, Alkali et al, 2018, Orhue et al, 2017. Plasmid curing had less of an effect on levels of resistance (25% change) against cefuroxime which is a 2nd generation cephalosporin than ceftazidime.…”