Antibiotic resistance and ESBL production in Escherichia coli from various sources in Aba metropolis, Nigeria

Martha Uzoaru Ajuga,Obakpororo Ejiro Agbagwa,Kome Otokunefor

doi:10.1186/s42269-021-00628-5

Abstract

BackgroundThe increase in multidrug resistance (MDR) among pathogenic bacteria responsible for infectious diseases has led to lack of effectiveness of some antibiotics. The ability of Escherichia coli to harbor resistant genes has made the treatment of infections a major challenge. This study was carried out to assess antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production of E. coli from various sources in Aba metropolis, Nigeria.ResultsFrom a total of 350 samples collected from clinical and non-clinical sources, 137 were presumptively identified as E. coli by standard phenotypic methods and 83 were confirmed as E. coli by the detection of E. coli specific 16S rRNA gene fragments. The majority of these isolates (52, 62.7%) were from non-clinical sources. The clinical isolates, however, exhibited a higher level of resistance against 62.5% of tested antibiotics. Both group of isolates exhibited similar levels (58.1% vs 53.9%) of MDR, though. A low rate of ESBL production was observed (1.2%) following phenotypic detection of ESBL-producing abilities using the double-disc synergy test. An assessment of the presence of three beta-lactamase gene genotypes (blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M) revealed that none of the three predominant ESBL genotypes was identified in this study.ConclusionsThis study reports high levels of antibiotic resistance in both clinical and non-clinical E. coli isolates. Though higher rates of resistance were observed among the non-clinical isolates, both group of organisms had similar levels of MDR. Strikingly, however, was the low level of ESBL producers detected in this study and the absence of the three main genotypes associated with ESBL production in this study.

Highlights

The increase in multidrug resistance (MDR) among pathogenic bacteria responsible for infectious diseases has led to lack of effectiveness of some antibiotics
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae have been described as the two predominant groups of bacteria associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production
Initial reports of ESBL-producing bacteria were associated with nosocomial outbreaks, but over time spread to the community

Summary

Introduction

The increase in multidrug resistance (MDR) among pathogenic bacteria responsible for infectious diseases has led to lack of effectiveness of some antibiotics. This study was carried out to assess antibiotic resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production of E. coli from various sources in Aba metropolis, Nigeria. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are one of the more recent bacterial evolutions observed in the ongoing antibiotic-resistant pandemic. Since the first detection of these organisms, an increasing prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria has been described worldwide (Denis et al 2015). These particular groups of resistant bacteria are important because the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes confer on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae have been described as the two predominant groups of bacteria associated with ESBL production. A recent review study (Tanko et al 2020) on ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria in Nigeria reports on the detection of these predominant ESBL genes. Studies exploring this phenomenon will result in more robust local epidemiological data which is key in a proper characterization of contribution of this antimicrobial resistance and in proffering a solution

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Conclusion