Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Causing Childhood Diarrhoea in Awka Municipality, South-eastern Nigeria

Objectives: This study investigated the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli and Salmonella causing Childhood Diarrhea in Awka.

Methods: Twenty six (26) diarrheic stool samples were collected from children (<5) years and cultured. The isolated bacteria were subjected to various identification and biochemical tests. The 44 isolated bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella isolates) were subjected antibiotic susceptibility studies and ESBL-producing screening.

Results: E. coli and Salmonella were detected in 23 (88%) and 21 (80%) fecal specimen associated with diarrheal episodes respectively. E. coli showed 91% resistance to ceftazidime, 100% resistance to cefuroxime, 78% resistance to gentamicin, 91% resistance to ceftriaxone, 78% resistance to ofloxacin and 100% resistance to augumentin. Salmonella showed 100% resistance to ceftazidime, 100% resistance to cefuroxime, 100% resistance to gentamicin, 100% resistance to ceftriaxone, 69% resistance to ofloxacin and 82% resistance to augumentin®. Fifteen (65.2%) E. coli isolates were ESBL producers and 8 (34.7%) isolates were non-ESBL producers.

Conclusion: Overall prevalence of 88.5% of E. coli and 80.8% of Salmonella spp. were associated with childhood diarrhea in the studied locality. The E. coli and Salmonella spp. were multidrug resistant. Majority (65.2%) of the E. coli were ESBL producers thus the colonized children may be potential sources of multidrug ESBLproducing E. coli strains in the hospital and/or community.