Incidence Of Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli Among Infants At Eleyele Comprehensive Health Centre, Ile-Ife

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective This work was carried out to find the incidence of enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli in children below five years of age who complained of having diarrhea at Eleyele Comprehensive Health Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife. Methods All specimen were cultured as routinely done in Bacteriology Laboratory in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital for stool samples. Colonies of lactose fermenters were processed after overnight incubation at 37°c. Non lactose fermenter colonies were discarded. Out of 200 colonies isolates on MacConkey Agar, there were 150 lactose fermenters and these were all processed. Biochemical examination on sugars, for the production of acid and gas, indole production, motility, citrate utilization, voges-prokauer and Methyl red tests. Results Out of 150 strains, only 80 strains obeyed IMVic ++ -- reactions. These were serotyped to know the enteropathogenic strains. From the result obtained, 23 strains reacted positively with polyvalent antisera (Polyvalent 2, 3, 4 antisera) out of which 13 strains gave a positive reaction with corresponding monovalent antisera. 5 strains from polyvalent 2 antisera, 5 strains from polyvalent 3 antisera, and 3 strains from polyvalent 4 antisera. In close study of this work, total percentage of female with Diarrhea cases were 44.5% total percentage of male with diarrhea cases were 55.5%. Out of these 80, Escherichia coli were isolated, from these 13 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains were isolated (16.25%). Patient with age group below 2 years gave 9 strains 69.2%, 2-3 years gave 2 strains (15.4%), 3-4 years gave 1 strain (7.7%) and 4-5 years gave 1 strain (7.7%). Also close examination of result revealed that male children had the greater percentage of Enteropathogenic infection with 8 strains out of the 13 strains serotyped (61.5%) and female children with 5 strains (38.5%). Conclusion Escherichia coli remain an important cause of infant diarrhea. Although epidemics of infant diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli have almost disappeared from the developed countries, it is still very common in developing countries. The relative importance of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as a cause of infant diarrhea need to be reassessed and new diagnostic techniques will also help to simplify this task.