PREVALENCE OF FAECAL COLONIZATION BY EXTENDED SPECTRUM

ABSTRACT

In today’s world, the emergence of  bacteria organisms that synthesize Extended spectrum beta-lactamase and Carbapenemase proteins are of critical public health  concern, This is because infections initiated by ESBL and Carbapenemase producing bacteria are on the rise, and such infections are associated with therapeutic failure, higher cost of treatment and possibly delayed recovery time. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ESBL and Carbapenemase producing Escherichia coli isolated from stool samples of students of University of Benin, in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 250 isolates of Escherichia coli were isolated from stool specimens of students in Benin City. Identification of the isolates was done using standard bacteriological techniques. Antibacterial susceptibility test was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL production by isolates was detected by the method “double disc synergy test”(DDST). A prevalence rate of 12.10% ESBL production among faecal Escherichia coli isolates from students was recorded. While Carbapenemase had 0% prevalence with no positive isolate detected by the simplified Carbapenemase inactivated method (sCIM). Fecal Escherichia coli isolates from Medical Laboratory Science students 18(22.50%), aged 24–26 years 14(20.0%) produced the most ESBL positive Escherichia coli. Female 17(13.06%) had higher prevalence of isolates that produced ESBL than males 13(11.20%). ESBL and non ESBL producers were highly susceptible to imipenem and gentamicin, also Esbl producers had a lower susceptibility profile compared to non ESBL producers. ESBL producers were highly susceptible to imipenem 27(90.10%) and gentamicin 7(79.20%). This study has revealed a significant prevalence of faecal ESBL produing Escherichia coli among apparently healthy students of the University of Benin, Benin city.Therefore public enlightenment of students on the consequence of antibiotics misuse should be done, including routine detection and surveillance of ESBL and Carbapenemase production among University students should be encouraged more cumulatively.