Antibiogram studies of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species isolated from diarrheal patients attending Malam Mande General Hospital Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

^&Corresponding author
Ayodele Timilehin Adesoji, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

Introduction    

Diarrhea is defined as a disease condition characterized with the passage of three or more loose stools per day or more frequent passage than is normal for a healthy individual [1]. It symptoms are characterized with gastroenteritis, stomach cramps, vomiting, and dehydration caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms [1]. WHO reported increased episode of diarrhea every year in developing countries (including Nigeria) [1]. As at the end of 2015, Nigeria still ranked second among the top 15 countries with high child mortality due to diarrhea and pneumonia [2]. Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity across the globe [3]. Diarrheal disease affects all age groups, infants and children below the age of five and these age groups are more predisposed to diarrheal diseases than any other age groups [3]. Infective bacterial diarrhea is caused by variety of organisms which includes Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., among others [4].

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacterium that belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae [5]. E. coli strains implicated in diarrhea are referred to as diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC). DEC are one of the most important of the various etiological agents of diarrhea, which includes enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), as well as, diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) among others. These pathotypes differ regarding their preferential host colonization sites, virulence mechanisms, and the ensuing clinical symptoms and consequences, and are identified using molecular techniques including primers that is specific to each pathotypes [6]. Salmonella, a genus of Gram-negative rod shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, causes a wide range of human diseases, such as enteric fever, gastroenteritis, endocarditis, and bacteraemia. It constitutes a major public health burden and represents a significant health cost in many countries. Salmonella serovars such as Salmonella serovar Typhimurium, Salmonella serovar Paratyphi, and Salmonella serovar Choleraesuis among others are grouped as Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) which are also known to be implicated in the cause of diarrhea [7].

Antibiotic resistance pattern exhibited by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains and Salmonella spp. are quite uniquely associated with the presence of some specific antibiotic resistance genes such genes encode resistance to tetracycline (tetA and tetB), ampicillin (CITM), and chloramphenicol (cat1 and cmlA ) among others. Antibiotic resistant diarrheagenic E. coli and Salmonella species cause severe diarrheal disease, and could be associated with treatment failures among diarrheal patients resulting in increasing mortality associated with infective bacterial diarrhea [8]. Diarrheal diseases remain among the most common causes of mortality and morbidity particularly in developing countries (including Nigeria) [3]. Risk factors related to inadequate water, sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and malnutrition remain unacceptably high [9]. Consumption of contaminated food and water with pathogenic (Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) can lead to infective bacterial diarrhea [10]. Antibiotic resistance is a major global public health concern, particularly in settings where few treatment options are available in the treatment of infective bacterial diarrhea [11]. However, there is paucity of information on antibiogram studies of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. associated with diarrheic stools of patients in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria, coupled with the fact that antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial isolates of diarrheal patients is not provisional during the period of sampling at the selected hospital, which makes it imperative to carry out this study. This research is, therefore, aimed at determination of antibiogram of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. associated with stool samples of diarrhea patients attending Malam Mande General Hospital, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Methods     

Description of study area: this study was conducted in Dutsin-Ma, Dutsin-Ma is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Katsina State, Nigeria. It is located on latitude and longitude 12°27'18''N, 7°29'29''E respectively. The LGA has an area of 527 km² and population of 169,671 as of 2006 census, with Zobe Dam lying to the south of the town [12]. The inhabitants of the local government are predominantly Hausa and Fulani by tribe. Their main occupation is farming and animal rearing.

Ethical approval: ethical approval was obtained from Katsina State ministry of health for permission to obtain diarrhea samples from patients at the selected hospital with approval number: MOH/ADM/SUB/1152/1/258. Informed consent was obtained from patients, as well as parents or guardians of the children that were sampled.

Sample collection: forty one diarrheic stool samples were collected between July and September, 2019 in universal specimen collection tubes from diarrheal patients at Malam Mande General Hospital, Dutsin-Ma, and transported on ice packed to the laboratory of Department of microbiology, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma for microbiological analysis.

Questionnaires: structured questionnaires were administered to patients or care giver of children that participated in this study for collection of demographic information, antibiotics and medications used in the treatment of diarrhea, with patients categorical classification (in patients or out patients) that might influence laboratory results obtained.

Isolation of bacteria

Isolation of Escherichia coli: sterile swab stick was used in streaking diarrheic stool samples collected from diarrheal patients on sterile Eosin Methylene Blue Agar and MacConkey Agar for isolation of Escherichia coli [4, 13], subsequently the plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours in an incubator. Afterwards, the plate was observed for colony formation after 24-48 hours of incubation. In other to obtain a distinct colony, bacteria was subcultured on EMB and MacConkey agar. Distinct green metallic sheen colonies and pink colonies was aseptically picked, streaked and stored on Nutrient agar slant for further biochemical characterization. Colonial appearance such as size, shape, color, elevation, and differential characteristics such as pigmentation, lactose fermentation on MacConkey agar and Gram staining were carried out to further identify the isolates.

Isolation of Salmonella species: one (1) gram of diarrheic stool sample from diarrheal patients was enriched in 5ml of Rappaport Vassiliadis R10 broth at 37°C for 24 hours [14] followed by subculturing on both MacConkey Agar and Salmonella-Shigella (SS) agar and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours [4]. Afterwards, the plates were observed for colony formation after 24-48 hours of incubation. Pure cultures was prepared from Salmonella like colonies, i.e. colorless colonies on MacConkey Agar, and colorless colonies with black spot at the center on SS Agar, was aseptically picked and stored on Nutrient agar slant for further biochemical characterization.

Bacteria characterization and identification: Escherichia coli and Salmonella species isolated were subjected to various biochemical tests such as: gram-stain, motility test, urease test, indole test, methyl-red, vogues proskauer test, citrate test, oxidative fermentation test, triple sugar iron agar test for biochemical characterization, and identified according to the method of Cowan and Steel [15].

Antibiogram studies: Escherichia coli. and Salmonella species isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using disk diffusion method. A bacterial lawn was prepared by transferring overnight grown bacteria colonies to a glass tube containing 5 ml sterile normal saline water with a sterile inoculating loop. The suspension was vortexed and visually matched with 0.5 MacFarland standard for turbidity. Sterile cotton tipped swab was immersed in the suspension, excess fluid was removed by rolling the swab on the upper part of the tube, and spread onto Mueller Hinton agar (Oxoid, UK) to obtain a semi-confluent growth. Disks impregnated with predetermined amounts of antibiotics was dispensed onto the bacterial lawn and the plates were incubated for 18-24 hours at 37°C. After the incubation, the diameter of the inhibition zones was measured in millimeters using ruler and interpreted as sensitive, intermediate, and resistant using the criteria described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [16]. The antibiotics disc (Oxoid, UK), that was used include: amoxicillin (10μg), ampicillin (10μg), ceftriaxone (30μg), chloramphenicol (30μg), ciprofloxacin (10μg), nalidixic acid (30μg), imipenem (10μg), streptomycin (10μg), and tetracycline (30μg). These antibiotics are used in humans for treatment of gram negative pathogens.

Results     

In this study, a total of 20 (48.8%) bacteria isolates comprising of 15 (36.6%) Escherichia coli and 5 (12.2%) Salmonella spp. were isolated among 41 (100%) diarrheic stools samples (Table 1). The percentage occurrence of bacteria isolate was higher in female 11 (55%) than their male 9 (45%) counterpart. It was also observed that 21 (51.2%) stools samples showed no bacterial growth (Table 1). In Table 2, Escherichia coli 11 (73.3%) and Salmonella spp. 3 (60%) were isolated respectively in patients between 0-5 years old (pediatric group). We also isolated 6.7% and 40% of these bacteria respectively in patients of aged ≥60 (elderly). However, among patients aged ≤ 19 (young adult) only E. coli (20%) was isolated. It was also observed that female patients showed highest occurrence of E. coli (8/15) and Salmonella spp. (3/5). Table 3 shows male patients as the highest (58.5%) with diarrhea symptom compared to their female counterpart (41.5%) in this study. To limit bias no patient was excluded except a few patients who refused to participate. A total of 29 (70.7%) outpatients participated in the study while 12 (29.3%) were in patients. The frequency of isolation for Salmonella spp. was higher (60%) among in-patient than outpatients (40%). The frequency of isolation for Salmonella spp. was also higher (60%) among illiterate than any other group in the study population. However, from the administered questionnaire, antibiotics 21 (51.2%), remain the sole treatment option considered in treatment of diarrhea among the study population, followed by zinc tablet supplement 13 (31.7%) and least considered treatment option is the anti-diarrheal agent 7 (17.1%).

All the fifteen (15) isolates of Escherichia coli were susceptible to chloramphenicol (100%) while highest frequency of resistance was observed to ampicillin 15 (100%) follow by amoxicillin 12 (80%), while percentage resistance to tetracycline and imipenem was observed to be 73.3% and 46.7% respectively (Table 4). Furthermore, all the 5 Salmonella spp. isolates were susceptible to each of chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin (100%) while 80 and 60% were susceptible to each of nalidixic acid and streptomycin respectively. In addition, Salmonella spp. showed 5 (100%) resistance to each of ampicillin and amoxicillin, followed by 3 (60%) to tetracycline and 2 (40%) to imipenem. Multidrug Resistance (MDR) bacteria were selected based on resistance to either three classes or over three classes (≥3) of antibiotics. Two (2) E. coli isolates displayed MDR characteristics as they were resistance to more than 3 different classes of antibiotics which include aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, penicillins, quinolones and tetracyclines. However, only one Salmomella spp. displayed MDR characteristics as they were resistant to 3 different classes of antibiotics which include aminoglycosides, penicillins, quinolones and tetracyclines. One isolate of both E. coli and Salmonella spp. was found resistant to 3 similar antibiotics which include tetracycline, nalidixic acid, and streptomycin (Table 5).

Table 6, shows routinely, commonly used antibiotics among the study population which may have contributed to the vast increase in antibiotics resistant among the bacteria, emergence of MDR that may lead to treatment failure, antibiotic mediated diarrhea and false negative bacterial culture from patient sampled. Majority of the study population lack basic knowledge on the name and meaning of antibiotics. In addition tetracycline and metronidazole remain the most commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of diarrhea among the patient sampled in the study population.

Discussion     

In this study, 36.6% occurrence of Escherichia coli was observed among the study population (Table 1), which is lower compared to 41.4% occurrence of E. coli reported by Korie et al. [13], and 59% occurrence of E. coli from diarrheic stools reported by Dormanesh et al. [17] in a study conducted in Enugu, Nigeria and Iran respectively. Nan-Ok et al. [4] also reported 22.0% of E. coli from diarrheic stool specimen from a study conducted in Korea. However, 12.2% occurrence of Salmonella spp. was observed in this present study, which is higher than 1.2% and 5% occurrence of Salmonella spp. reported by Nair et al. [18] and Mzungu et al. [19] in a study conducted in India and Nigeria respectively. Tesfahun et al. [20] reported 10.8% occurrence of Salmonella spp. from diarrheic stools in a study conducted in Ethiopia while Kabir et al. [21] reported 17% occurrence of Salmonella spp. from stool specimen of patients with gastroenteritis in a study conducted in Lagos, Nigeria. This disparity may be attributable to differences in the study designs, patients´ selection, differing environmental condition and behavioral pattern in those regions.

Moreover, in this study the highest frequency of bacterial isolation from diarrheic stools where among the subjects in the age group 0 to 5 years (pediatric group) (Table 2) and this is similar to reports from Nigeria Korie et al. [13], Mzungu et al. [19], Abdullahi et al. [22], Sule et al. [23], Senegal Thiam et al. [9] and Saudi Arabia Al-jurayyan et al. [24]. This could be because diarrhea could result from hand contamination among these children especially while playing on the ground, playing with toys or other objects, and unknowingly putting their dirty finger in their mouth. In addition, the risk of ingesting contaminated materials among this age group is high, especially in unhygienic environments. The low frequency of isolation among young adult within the age group of ≤ 19 might be associated with the development of immunity or loss of receptor for specific adhesion molecules. Similarly, stools positive culture for bacteria observed among seniors within the age category of ≥ 60 might be associated with the fact that surveys on seniors have found that non negligible proportion of older adult do not follow recommended food safety practices, which makes them vulnerable to gastroenteritis associated with the studied bacteria i.e. Salmonella spp. There was higher frequency of stool culture positive for bacteria among male within 0 to 5 than their female counterpart. This is in contrast with study of Oliver et al. [25] from Kenya where diarrheic stool positive culture for bacteria was higher in female than their male counterpart within the same age category, this might be associated with differences in study design and geographical location. Diarrheic stools specimens from females within the age category ≤19 (Young adult) and ≥ 60 (Elderly) tested positive for bacterial culture than their male counterpart. This might be due to random selection of diarrhea patient that participated in this study.

Furthermore, this study indicated that E. coli isolates showed high resistance rate to ampicillin (Table 4). This findings is in agreement with reports from Thailand, Wilunda and Panza [26], Kenya, Sang et al. [27] and Nigeria, Korie et al. [13]. The antibiotics sensitivity pattern shows high sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol which is similar to study conducted in Lagos, Nigeria by Alabi et al. [28], and Bahir Dar, Ethopia, Ayrikim et al. [29] and Sang et al. [27], and Oman, Ali et al. [30]. In addition, high sensitivity of Salmonella spp. isolates to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin observed in this study is similar to reports by other authors from Katsina, Nigeria (Mzungu et al. [19]), Lagos, Nigeria (Kabir et al. [21]), Enugu, Nigeria (Ogbu et al. [31]) and Ethiopia (Beyene and Tasew [32]). These increase in resistance may be attributed to the widespread misuse of this drug, coupled with the fact that they are cheap, people can purchase these drugs from the open market in the study area without physician prescription. Increased and high susceptibility to chloramphenicol might be attributed to the cost of the antibiotics, it may be expensive compared to ampicillin, amoxicillin and tetracycline which cannot be easily afforded by majority of the people from the study area, and therefore this may have contributed to the effectiveness of the chemotherapeutic agent in treatment of diarrhea caused by Salmonella spp.

High resistance of bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella spp.) to beta lactam antibiotics observed in this study (Table 4) is also in agreement with high resistance of bacteria to beta lactam antibiotics reported by Adesoji and Ogunjobi [33] from non-clinical samples in a study conducted in Nigeria. In addition, occurrence of tetracycline and streptomycin resistance among MDR bacteria (E. coli and Salmonella spp.) observed in this study (Table 5) is similar to tetracycline resistant MDR and aminoglycoside resistant MDR bacteria reported by Adesoji et al. [34] and Adesoji et al. [35] respectively from environmental samples in a study conducted in southwestern Nigeria. This might be explained by the fact that indiscriminate use of antibiotics may have contributed to vast emergence and spread of multidrug resistant bacteria from both clinical and non-clinical environment.

From this present study, the frequency of isolation was highest with (3, 60%) Salmonella species isolates from hospitalized patients (Table 3), this is in contrast to (77, 5.4%) Salmonella species isolates from hospitalized patients reported by Thompson et al. [36], in a study conducted in Vietnam. Furthermore, in relation to educational status and frequency of isolation, this study indicated highest isolation (3, 60%) of Salmonella spp. was observed among illiterates (Table 3). This result is consistent with earlier studies conducted by Sofia et al. [37] and Tesfahun et al. [20]. Education is vital to create awareness in the community with regard to the mechanism of management of infectious diarrhea and control of other factors that lead to this disease. In this study, increased use of tetracycline (41.17%) indicated among the sampled patients (Table 6) might have contributed to high percentage of resistance to tetracycline (14, 70%) observed in this study. The result of high negative stool culture (Table 1) might be as a result of pretreatment with antibiotics among the sampled patients within the last 30 days. This is similar to report by Korie et al. [13]. In addition this might also be due to the fact that pathogens such as parasites and viruses are also implicated in diarrheal diseases.

Antidiarrheal agent contain Loperamide hydrochloride sold and known to the sampled patients under the brand name of (Lemotil and diarrhea stop) which is used in the treatment of antibiotics associated diarrhea, was found to be the least treatment options considered for treatment of diarrhea in the study area (Table 3). With the vast increase of resistance to commonly used antibiotics associated with the studied bacteria, antidiarrheal agent could be considered as an effective alternative medication to antibiotics with respect to diarrhea diseases. However, susceptibility of bacteria isolates to chloramphenicol and fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) observed in this study (Table 4), coupled with its increased effectiveness in in-vitro antibiotic susceptibility profile reported by Beyene and Tasew [32] in Ethiopia, Kanyina et al. [38] in Kenya, and Mzungu et al. [19] in Nigeria, among others showed that these chemotherapeutic agents could be effective in treatment of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species associated diarrhea in those region.

Conclusion     

In conclusion, from this present study, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. were frequently isolated among pediatric age groups (0-5) with prevalence rate of 73.3% and 60% respectively. However, the results of antibiotic susceptibility tests in this study showed high level of resistance among these isolates especially to ampicillin (100%), amoxicillin (80%) and tetracycline (70%) making them completely unreliable in the management of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. associated diarrhea in the study area. It was also observed that 15% of bacteria displayed multidrug resistant characteristics. Hence, comprehensive studies are needed for the determination of the molecular epidemiology of these resistant bacteria for public health surveillance.

Competing interests     

The authors declare no competing interests.

Authors' contributions     

Adesoji Ayodele Timi planned, designed and supervised the laboratory work while Ahmad Mansur Liadi carried out the laboratory work and also wrote the manuscript. Adesoji, Ayodele Timi did a thorough review of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

Acknowledgments     

We acknowledge the Medical Director, Laboratory Head, Chief Nursing Officer, other staff members at Malam Mande General Hospital, Dutsinma, Katsina State, Nigeria for their efforts and contributions towards the successful sampling at this study sampling area. All technologist in the Department of Microbiology, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria, who gave the technical support during the laboratory work are immensely appreciated.

Tables     

Table 1: percentage distribution of bacterial isolates among the study population

Table 2: age and gender distribution of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolates among the study population

Table 3: socio-demographic distribution of bacterial isolates of the study population

Table 4: antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from diarrheic stools among the study population

Table 5: multidrug resistant profile of 3 bacteria isolates

Table 6: distribution of antibiotics taken by the sampled patients in the last 30 days before hospital visit

References