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A preliminary investigation of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from children with diarrhoea from
P Shears1, C A Hart, G Suliman
1University Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Liverpool Hospital, U.K.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance is high in children from developing countries, with sulphonamide resistance most common. Resistance rates varied by location, with Sudan showing the highest prevalence of resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat, particularly in developing nations.
- Enterobacteriaceae infections are common in children, and their resistance patterns are crucial for treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Enterobacteriaceae from children in four developing countries.
- To identify specific antibiotics with high resistance rates and geographical variations.
Main Methods:
- Faecal samples from children in Peru, Belize, Zaire, and Sudan were analyzed.
- Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulphonamide, trimethoprim, streptomycin, and chloramphenicol.
- Antibiotic resistance transfer was studied using Escherichia coli Hb101 as a recipient.
Main Results:
- Overall, sulphonamide resistance was most prevalent (56%), while chloramphenicol resistance was lowest (19%).
- Children in Sudan exhibited the highest antibiotic resistance, with 65% of isolates resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim, and streptomycin.
- Resistance patterns varied significantly across the studied locations.
Conclusions:
- High levels of antibiotic resistance exist in Enterobacteriaceae from children in these developing countries.
- Sulphonamide and certain other antibiotics show widespread resistance, necessitating careful prescribing.
- Geographical variations in resistance highlight the need for location-specific surveillance and treatment guidelines.
Abstract:
The prevalence of resistance to commonly used antibiotics was investigated in groups of children from four developing countries, Peru, Belize, Zaire and Sudan. Enterobacteriaceae spp. isolated from faeces of children with diarrhoea were tested for sensitivity to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulphonamide, trimethoprim, streptomycin and chloramphenicol. Overall, the highest prevalence of resistance was to sulphonamide (56% of children) and the lowest was to chloramphenicol (19% of children). For individual locations, isolates from Sudan had the highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance, 65% of the isolates being resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim and streptomycin. Transfer of resistance was studied for some isolates using Escherichia coli Hb101 as recipient.