Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Diarrheagenic (DEC) and Species Recovered from Diarrheal Patients in Selected Rural Communities of the Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

PURPOSE

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria remains as one of the major impediments towards the prevention and treatment of microbial infections and continues to be a serious threat to medicine. Henceforth, this study aimed at elucidating the antimicrobial resistance profiles of diarrheagenic (DEC) and species recovered from diarrheal patients in selected rural communities of the Amathole District Municipality (ADM), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (SA).

METHODS

The antimicrobial resistance profiles of diarrheagenic and isolates were evaluated using antimicrobial susceptibility tests and the relevant antimicrobial resistance factors were elucidated by the Polymerase Chain Reaction technique.

RESULTS

A sum of 324 diarrheagenic and 62 isolates were recovered from diarrheal stool specimens collected amongst diarrheal patients admitted in medical facilities/health-care centers within the ADM in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Multiple antimicrobial resistance index mean values of 0.7 and 0.5 for DEC and isolates, respectively, were observed in this study, indicating that these isolates were from sources where antimicrobials were frequently used. The antimicrobial resistance factors I and II, A and A were detected among antimicrobial-resistant DEC pathotypes and isolates recovered in this study.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of the multiple antimicrobial-resistant DEC and isolates with the relevant antimicrobial resistance factors in this study suggests a portentous human health threat associated with diarrhea and a major deterrent in medicine.