Abstract

OCCURRENCE OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASE PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI FROM HUMAN CLINICAL AND WILD BIRDS (PIGEONS, BATS, PARROTS AND DUCKS) SAMPLES FROM EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Iroha I.R., Afiukwa F.N., Oji A.E., *Ejikeugwu P.C., Nwakeze E.A.

ABSTRACT

Extended spectrum beta-lactamases are plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases that hydrolyze and confer resistance to the third-generation cephalosporins including ceftazidime and cefotaxime; and organisms producing ESBLs are also resistant to some non-beta lactam antibiotics (e.g. the fluoroquinolones). ESBLs are chiefly produced by bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae (e.g. E. coli and K. pneumoniae) but they are also expressed by non-enteric organisms such as the Pseudomonads. This study evaluated the occurrence of ESBL-producing bacteria from E. coli isolates emanating from human urine and blood samples and bird samples (including pigeons, bats, parrots and docks). All the E. coli isolates were analyzed and confirmed by standard bacteriological methods; and susceptibility studies was carried out by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique according to the CLSI standard. The E. coli isolates showed varying rates of resistance and susceptibility to the test antibiotics including ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, aztreonam, ceftriaxone, imipenem and meropenem. Only imipenem and meropenem showed inhibitory activity against the test organism. ESBL production was detected phenotypically by the double disk synergy test (DDST) method; and only isolates from urine and blood samples were confirmed to produce ESBLs. Particularly, 8 E. coli isolates out of 45 isolates from urine samples and one E. coli isolate out of 6 isolates from blood samples were confirmed ESBL positive by the DDST method. None of the E. coli isolates from birds showed ESBL production. Our results phenotypically showed that the E. coli clinical isolates express ESBLs; and it is important to detect the production of such antibiotic-hydrolyzing enzymes (ESBLs in particular) from clinically important samples/isolates in order to preserve the potency of currently available antibiotics and to ensure accurate drug prescription in our hospitals since ESBL positive bacteria are multidrug resistant organisms.

Keywords: ESBLs, Resistance, Antibiotics, Clinical Isolates, Enterobacteriaceae.