Research Article
Odafe James Oghenevo ,Bassey E
Abstract
Objective: This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella producing ESBLs strains by phenotypic methods and their profile of drug resistance amongst patients with diarrhoea due to gastroenteritis and enteric Fever in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 256 patients in Calabar with diarrhoea due to enteric fever and gastroenteritis. They were examined for Salmonella infection. Isolation and detection of Salmonella species was done following the standard ISO 6579:2002/Amd2007 method. Modified double disc synergy and phenotypic confirmatory tests were used to determine ESBL-producing Salmonella species. Results: Salmonella isolates were recovered from 44 (17.2%) stool samples; 24 (9.4%) were ESBLs producers and 20 (7.8%) were non-ESBLs producers. Eight (33.3%) and 3 (15.0%) strains of both ESBL producing and nonESBL producing respectively, demonstrated resistance against 7 of the 8 antibiotics used in this study. Resistance against 3rd generation cephalosporin was observed in 34 (77.3%) of the Salmonella strains against ceftazidime, 26 (59.1%) against cefotaxime while all 44 (100%) Salmonella strains were resistant against ceftriaxone. Conclusion: The presence of ESBL Salmonella amongst isolated strains should not be overlooked. We recommend continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistant strains and the rational use antimicrobials agents