FREQUENCY AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF ENTEROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and antibiogram of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in children less than two years.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the department of microbiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi (NUMS) Pakistan, from Jul 2013 to Feb 2014.

Material and Methods: Stool samples collected from children with diarrhea who were below 2 years of age were included. Escherichia.coli isolates were identified by microscopy, culture and biochemical reactions (API 10S). Among the Escherichia coli isolates, EPEC isolates were identified by serogrouping. Antibiotic susceptibility of EPEC isolates was determined by modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines.

Results: A total of 42 EPEC isolates were collected during the study period. None of the isolates were sensitive to ampicillin followed by ciprofloxacin (52.4%), ceftriaxone (7.3%), co-trimoxazole (12.5%), amikacin (87.5%), co-amoxiclav (9.5%), aztreonam (15%), meropenem (100%), sulbactum-cefoperazone (97.2%), piperacillintazobactam (89.5%), and gentamicin (63.4%). About 97% of the isolates were multidrug resistant.

Conclusion: EPEC is an important pathogen in pediatric diarrhea with very high rate of multi drug resistance.