+44 330 818 7254Okesola A.O and Olowookere A.O
Diarrheal diseases are frequent complications seen in patients with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The etiological spectrum of enteric pathogens in these patients is broad, and these include, bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses. Escherichia coli (E.coli) strains are well-known bacterial agents of diarrhea in these patients, and, these can be life-threatening. There have been reports of the emergence of multidrug resistant E.coli among these patients, and this necessitates the study of the antibiogram of strains of this organism in this environment. This study was therefore conducted to determine the antibiotic susceptibility or resistance pattern of enterovirulent E.coli strains from stools of HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in our environment. Ninety-eight strains of E.coli identified and confirmed as pathogens of diarrhea in HIV- seropositive patients were included in this study. They were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test, using the disc diffusion method. High resistant rates were demonstrated towards tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanate and amoxicillin, the antibiotics commonly used in this environment to treat diarrhea. This therefore calls for the enforcement of judicious use of antibiotics in this environment to control the situation.
Share this article