Abstract

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern Of Diarrhoegenic Escherichia coli

Author(s): T.Thirunalasundari, S.Rajan, S.Balakumar

Antibiotic resistance of microbes is an emerging problem throughout the world. Periodical checking of drug resistance is essential to overcome this problem. Escherichia coli is the major pathogen of diarrhoea in children and travelers. To assess the antimicrobial resistance pattern of diarrhoeogenic Escherichia coli, stool samples were collected from diarrhoeal patients attending Annal Ghandhi Memorial Government Hospital and two private hospitals of Tiruchirappalli. A total of 368 Escherichia coli strains were isolated by making use of selective and differential media and identified by various biochemical tests. The isolates were confirmed by serotyping. 32 commercial antibiotics were subjected to look for their activity by disc diffusion method. Results revealed that all the Escherichia coli strains tried were resistant to antibiotics tested. The percentage of activity varies between 11 to 97%. 89% of Escherichia coli isolates were sensitive to oxytetracyline . All the Escherichia coli isolates were found to be multiple drug resistant.