Clinico etiological spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity profile of bacillary dysentery in a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir, India

Abstract

Background: Diarrheal disorders along with dysentery constitute the second killer infections in childhood. In fact, more than half of the dysentery cases are recorded in children under 9 years of age. Shigella infection comprises well over 60% of dysentery cases in age group of 6 month to 5 years. Shigella flexneri is the commonest etiology encountered in developing nations. E. coli and campylobacter comprises the second important bacterial isolates in childhood dysentery. The objective of this study was to ascertain the clinical spectrum, etiological profile and local antibiotic sensitivity of the enteropathogens isolated.Methods: 147 serial dysentery cases admitted in GB Panth hospital Srinagar, which is an associated hospital of government medical college Srinagar from October 2014 to September 2015 were taken up for the study. A thorough and detailed history and examination was taken and recorded as per the proforma. Freshly collected stool sample was subjected to gross and microscopic examination; and after due bacteriological instructions was cultured on enrichment and selective media as per the need. Antibiotic sensitivity was done using disc diffusion method.Results: Maximum cases occurred in 1-5 years age group. Malnutrition grades II and III recorded the highest admissions. Most of cases had moderate dehydration. Although not frequent severe anemia, paralytic ileus and renal failure were the commoner complications. Shigella was grown in 12.24% of cases. Among them Shigella flexeneri serotype was encountered in 65% patients. Drug resistance was seen for many of the antibacterials like amoxycillin, ampicillin, norfloxacin, cotrimoxazole and nalidixic acid. However, they were susceptible to ceftriaxone and amikacin in well over 80% cases. E. coli isolates had similar antibiotic sensitivity profiles, with most susceptibility to amikacin and ceftriaxone.Conclusions: Drug sensitivity and resistance pattern is a variable phenomenon and changes from place to place and time to time. Hence there is a need to document the local pattern of an area so as to guide a judicious antibiotic administration.