Detection of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli virulence genes by multiplex-PCR method and their antibiotic susceptibility profile

Abstract

Acute  diarrhoeal  disease  is  a  public  health  problem  and  an  important cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in  developing countries. The etiology is varied, and the diarrheagenic Escherichiacolipathotypes are most important.  Our objectives were detection of Diarrhoeagenic E. coli virulence genes by Multiplex-PCR method and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Fifty five E.  Coli strains were isolated from 150 fresh fecal samples. Multiplex PCR was performed to characterize the diarrheagenic E. coli strains. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined by the disc-diffusion method. The highest and lowest frequency  of  DEC  isolates  were  12.7%  and  1.8%  for  EHEC  and  EIEC,  respectively. bfp  and  stx1  genes  were  not  carried  out  by  DEC strains. Thirty six isolates were negative for any gene amplification. The highest rate of  resistance  among  DEC  strains  were  related  to  Imipenem with  100% frequency.  All  DEC  isolates  (100%)  were  susceptible  to  ciprofloxacin.Differentiation between the diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes  are  of  great  importance  since  they  are  complicated  in  acute  diarrheal  illnesses  and  may  need  specific  antimicrobial  therapy. The high antimicrobial resistance raises a broad discussion on the indiscriminate or improper use of antimicrobials, besides the risks of self-medication.