Surveillance of Resistance to Imipenem and Meropenem in Broad-spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing <i>E. coli</i> Strains Isolated from Urine Samples in Njombe, Cameroon

Abstract

The emergence and spread of carbapenems resistance <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> remain a major public health, a real threat as well as a silent tsunami. This phenomenon leading to reduce the therapeutic option and increase the additional cost. The general objective of this study was to determine the frequency of <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains producing broad-spectrum beta lactamases and resistant to carbapenems. We carried out a descriptive, cross sectional and prospective study between August and November 2020 at the Hospital Saint Jean de Malte in Njombe, on a consecutive sample of 249 patients received at the bacteriology unit. Our study population consisted of all patients who came for inpatient or outpatient consultations, were prescribed an cytobacterioligical urine exam, and in whom an <i>E. coli</i> strain was isolated. The identification of <i>E. coli</i> strains was confirmed using the Api 20E mini gallery. Resistance to carbapenems (Meropenem and Imipenem) was defined by determining the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by the microdilution plate method. Of the 249 cytobacterioligical urine exam samples received during our study period, 131 presented a pathogenic germ and <i>E. coli</i> strains were identified in 85 of them. The age of the patients in whom the <i>E. coli</i> strains were identified ranged from 70 to 85 years and the male sex dominated with a frequency of 38.2%. Of these identified <i>E. coli</i> strains, we detected 08 (9.41%) BLSE-producing strains. The resistance rate of the isolated <i>E. coli</i> strains producing BLSE was 75% and 50% for Meropenem and Imipenem respectively. The results of this study underline the urgent need for a regular surveillance system for broad-spectrum antibiotics in our context.