Obidire Chukwuma | Ebah Esther | Onekutu Amana | Olasan Olalekan
Discipline: Health Science
Diarrhoea is a dreaded illness reported to cause high mortality globally, especially in children under five years of age. This study investigated the prevalence and multidrug resistance profile of two bacterial species: Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae, in 100 diarrhoeal children. Antimicrobial sensitivity tests were carried out on isolates using 12 antibiotics. E. coli infection was high (29%), and the degree of infection was not associated with the level of drug resistance (χ2 =1.79, P>0.05). Children with age 0-12 months were the highest infected, constituting 34.5% of the infected children, whereas drug resistance was highest in the age bracket 13-24 months and lowest in age bracket 0-12 months (62.5%). Drug resistance to E. coli and S. dysenteriae was insignificantly higher in females (74.2%) than in males (67.5%) (χ2 =0.32, P>0.05). None of the 12 drugs tested was 100% sensitive to E. coli and S. dysenteriae. Drug action was dependent on the level of resistance (χ2 =15.68, P<0.05). Drug resistance was 93.1% in ampicillin and 86.2% in tetracycline. Two cases of S. dysenteriae (2% prevalence) were reported and not associated with the age and sex of the children. Drugs with 100% resistance were ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and augmentin. The hospital management should explore the potent antimicrobial agents against the bacterial species highlighted in this report. This study has given vital information needed in treating and controlling diarrhoea among children.
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