ABSTRACT

The introduction of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli from poultry farms to the environment can pose a health risk if these bacteria reach places where people may become exposed. The aim of this study was to determine the multiple antibiotics resistance index and prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli from poultry birds in several poultry farms across Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Identification of the isolates was done using Standard bacteriological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using Kirby-Bauer diffusion method. Multiple antibiotics resistance (MAR) index was calculated as the ratio of the number of antibiotics to which an organism is resistant to the total number of antibiotics to which the organism is exposed. Escherichia coli that were resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics were classified as multi-drug resistant strain. A total of 150 isolates of Escherichia coli were isolated from poultry birds faeces. Multidrug resistance was detected in 122(81.33%) of the 150 isolates of Escherichia coli while average MAR index was 0.703. The detection rate of multidrug resistant E. coli was higher in Layers 90(60%) than in Broilers 32(21.33%). Multidrug resistant E. coli had a lower susceptibility profile compared to non multidrug resistant E.coli. This study showed that 98% (147/150) of the isolates from the poultry faeces had a MARI>0.2, indicating that they originated from environments of high antibiotic exposure. The relatively high prevalence of multidrug-resistant E. coli found in this study emphasizes the need for regular identification and monitoring of multidrug-resistant E. coli in poultry populations.