Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolated from children under age five with and without diarrhea in Central Ethiopia

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288517
• Publication Date: 2023-07-14T17:35:27Z
• Authors: Tizazu Zenebe Zel...; Tadesse Eguale; Berhanu Yitayew; Dessalegn Abeje; Ashenafi Alemu; Aminu Seman; Jana Jass; Adane Mihret; Tamrat Abebe
• Keywords: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Background Diarrhea is a serious health problem in children, with the highest mortality rate sub-Saharan Africa. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) among major bacterial causes of diarrhea children under age five. The present study aims to determine molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profiles DEC identify contributing factors for acquisition five Central Ethiopia. Methods A facility-centered cross-sectional was conducted Addis Ababa Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, from December 2020 August 2021. total 476 specimens, 391 diarrheic 85 non-diarrheic were collected. Bacterial isolation identification, susceptibility, pathotype determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) done. Results Of specimens analyzed, 89.9% (428/476) positive E . , which 183 one or more genes coding pathotypes. overall prevalence 38.2% (183/476). predominant enteroaggregative (EAEC) (41.5%, 76/183), followed by enterotoxigenic (21.3%, 39/183), enteropathogenic (15.3%, 28/183), enteroinvasive (12.6%, 23/183), hybrid strains (7.1%, 13/183), Shiga toxin-producing (1.6%, 3/183), diffusely-adherent (0.6%, 1/183). detected 40.7% (159/391) 28.2% (24/85) (p = 0.020). majority pathotypes resistant ampicillin (95.1%, 174/183) tetracycline (91.3%, 167/183). higher trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (58%, 44/76), ciprofloxacin (22%, 17/76), ceftazidime cefotaxime (20%, 15/76) seen EAEC Multidrug (MDR) 43.2% (79/183) pathotypes, whereas extended spectrum ß-lactamase carbapenemase producers 16.4% (30/183) 2.2% (4/183), respectively. Conclusion All six common that have potential cause severe diarrheal outbreaks found area; dominant being high MDR.