Journal Article

Effects of Antibiotics on Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Diarrhoeal Stool of Children (0-5) Years Attending Various Hospitals in Niger State, Nigeria

I L. Muhammad, O.S. Olonitola, J.B. Ameh & B.O. Olayinka

Abstract

Diarrhoea remains a common complaint among children attending various hospitals in Niger state for medical attention. A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of E. coli strains isolated from diarrhoeal stool of children less than five years attending various hospitals in Niger state from February to October, 2014. The hospitals include Etsu Umaru Sanda General Hospital, Bida, General Hospital, Minna and General Hospital, Kontagora. A total of 480 samples were collected from diarrhoeal cases (450) and non-diarrhoeal cases (30). The samples were analyzed using MacConkey and Eosin Methylene blue agar. The isolates were Gramstained, identified and serotype using biochemical tests and E. coli strain kits. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out on each of the E. coli strain using disc diffusion method. Out of the 480 patients sampled, 2 (53.13%) were males and 225 (46.87%) were females. The presences of Escherichia coli were observed in 81 (16.88%) samples, while 399 (83.12%) were E. coli negative. Different strains of Escherichia coli associated with diarrhoeagenic patients that were isolated includes Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli 16 (19.75%), Enterohemorrhagic E. coli 13 (16.05%), Enteroinvasive E. coli 8 (9.88%), Enteropathogenic E. coli 27 (33.33%) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli 17 (20.99%). All the tested Escherichia coli strains were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, Nalidixic acid, Streptomycin and Tarivid, while all isolates were resistant to Ampicillin and Augmentin. Therefore, this study revealed that Ciprofloxacin, Nalidixic acid, Streptomycin and Tarivid can be used as drug of choice for the treatment of diarrhoea due to E. coli strains. Statistical analysis revealed that age, source of water, appearance of stool, area of domicile, occupation and education status of parents are statistically significant (P<0.05), while gender is statistically in significant (P>0.05).

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