1. Multi- and extensively drug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from South African children under 5 years old with diarrhoea.
- Author
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Heine L, Alfinete NW, Potgieter N, and Barnard TG
- Subjects
- Humans, South Africa epidemiology, Infant, Child, Preschool, Male, Female, Infant, Newborn, Diarrhea microbiology, Escherichia coli Infections microbiology, Escherichia coli Infections epidemiology, Escherichia coli drug effects, Escherichia coli genetics, Escherichia coli isolation & purification, Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial genetics, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, beta-Lactamases genetics
- Abstract
Background: Globally, millions of children die as a result of diarrhoea and/or antimicrobial resistant infections. Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are responsible for a substantial proportion of cases of diarrhoea in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Effective treatments (including the use of antimicrobials) are therefore essential., Methodology: E. coli isolated from children under the age of five were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the Vitek 2® compact automated system (bioMérieux Inc., France) and categorized as multidrug or extensively drug resistant (MDR or XDR)., Results: Almost all isolates (164/166, 98.8 %) were categorized as MDR with 4.9 % (9/166) categorized as XDR. The majority of isolates (153/166, 92.2 %) were also phenotypically classified as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers. More than half of these isolates (78/153, 51.0 %) were subjected to PCR for genes associated with ESBL production. More than half (45/78, 57.7 %) of the isolates tested were PCR positive for at least one ESBL gene or gene group and 11.5 % (9/78) were positive for two ESBL genes or gene groups., Discussion: There is a need to strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance in South Africa and improve infection prevention and control measures. There is also a need to review the current South African Treatment Guidelines as outlined by the South African Essential Drugs Programme., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicting financial or non-financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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