Nearly all Escherichia coli isolates detected in fecal samples among children with diarrhea in Mozambique were resistant to ampicillin, according to results of a study published in the International Journal of Infectious Disease.

Investigators collected a single stool sample via fecal swab from children younger than 15 years of age who were hospitalized for diarrhea. Patients with hospital-acquired diarrhea were not eligible for inclusion. After collection, culture analysis and biochemical characterization were performed to detect E coli strains. Using multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays, investigators also determined diarrhoeagenic E coli (DEC) pathotypes targeting specific genes. They used the Kirby Bauer method to assess antimicrobial susceptibility.

Among 732 fecal samples assessed via culture analysis, 262 grew E coli. Of 208 samples tested by PCR, 101 (48.6%) were positive for DEC pathotypes. The predominant E coli pathotypes were enteroaggregative (66.3%), enteropathogenic (15.8%), enterotoxigenic (13.9%), and enteroinvasive (4.0%). Multiple pathotypes were detected in only 8.9% of the samples.

Isolated DEC pathotypes were most frequently resistant to ampicillin (97.8%), followed by tetracycline (68.3%), chloramphenicol (28.4%), nalidixic acid (19.5%), and gentamicin (14.4%).

This study was limited by the lack of available resources for adequate E coli and antimicrobial resistance testing.

Reference

Manhique-Coutinho L, Chiani P, Michelacci V, et al. Molecular characterization of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolates from children with diarrhea: A cross-sectional study in four provinces of Mozambique: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in Mozambique. Int J Infect Dis. Published online April 28, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2022.04.054

Ampicillin Resistance Common in Escherichia coli Isolates From Children With Diarrhea

Reference

Want to read more?

Want to read more?