Epidemiology, Phenotyping and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Enterohaemrrhagic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Cases of Diarrhea

Aim of the Work: this work aimed to study the Prevalence, Epidemiology, Phenotyping, and Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Enterohaemrrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains among cases of infantile and childhood diarrhea in Egypt.
Materials and Methods: This study was carried on 200 pediatric cases of acute diarrhea. E. coli was isolated from stool specimens and identified by conventional cultural methods which is confirmed by biochemical reactions. EHEC strains were identified by latex agglutination test. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolated EHEC strains was done by disc diffusion method.

Results: out of 200 cases of diarrhea E. coli could be isolated from 48 cases (24%). Of these 48 E. coli strains; 5 strains were identified as EHEC2.5% (5/200); one strain was identified as O157 and the other 4 strains were identified as non O157 (O26, O91, O103, O111, O128, O145). As regard the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolates EHEC highest sensitivity was recorded to Amikacin (100%) as the five strains of EHEC were sensitive to amikacin, followed by ceftriaxone (60%) as only 3 strains of EHEC recorded sensitivity to ceftriaxone. All the 5 strains of EHEC were resistant to sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim and imepenem andcefepim, amoxicillin/clavulanic acids (00.00% sensitivity).
Conclusion: There was high incidence of EHEC among cases of infantile and childhood diarrhea. EHEC serotype O157:H7 is an important pathogen responsible for cases of bloody diarrhea. Phenotyping of E. colimust be added to the routine laboratory work of infantile diarrhea which helps in proper choice of antimicrobial chemotherapy that will improve the prognosis and sequel of diarrhea.