Existing status of shigellosis in Andaman & Nicobar islands

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acute diarrhea remains a significant health concern in children under five years of age.
• Identifying causative bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in acute diarrhea among children under five.
• To determine the antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolated bacterial pathogens, particularly Shigella sp.

Main Methods:

• A total of 691 children under five with acute diarrhea were enrolled.
• Faecal specimens were cultured to isolate conventional bacterial pathogens.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on isolated pathogens.

Main Results:

• Conventional bacterial pathogens were isolated in 19.2% of cases.
• Shigella sp. was the most frequent isolate (10.4%), predominantly found in children aged 7-12 months.
• All Shigella isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, gentamycin, and nalidixic acid, but resistant to ampicillin.
• Multiple drug-resistant isolates and 7 distinct antibiograms were observed.

Conclusions:

• Shigella sp. is a common bacterial cause of acute diarrhea in young children, with peak incidence in the 7-12 month age group.
• While Shigella isolates showed sensitivity to certain antibiotics, resistance to ampicillin and the presence of multiple drug-resistant strains highlight the need for ongoing surveillance and updated treatment guidelines.