Resistance Pattern and Plasmid Profile of E. coli Isolated from Diarrhoeic Children in Selected Health Centres in Sokoto, Nigeria

Aim: The resistance pattern and plasmid profile of E. coli was evaluated in this study. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted in Specialist Hospital; Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital; and Women and Children Welfare Clinic, Sokoto State, Nigeria from May to October, 2017. Original Research Article Alkali et al.; JAMB, 11(2): 1-7, 2018; Article no.JAMB.41007 2 Methodology: A total of 236 stool samples were collected from diarrhoeic children of age ≤5 years from selected Hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria. Isolation and identification of E. coli strains were carried out using standard methods and procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using disc-diffusion method. Plasmid extraction was carried out using alkaline lysis method while curing of the plasmid harbouring strains was done using standard curing technique. Results: The result showed that 96 (41%) of the bacteria were E. coli, all of which were resistant to ampicillin and augmentin. The resistance to antibiotics shows 19 different resistance patterns. Sixtyone point five (61.5%) were multidrug resistant (MDR). Majority 9/10 (90%) of the MDR isolates harboured plasmids, with size ranging from 6.0 to 20 kb. All the cured strains were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and ceftazidime indicating that resistance to these antibiotics was plasmid mediated. Conclusion: E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic children in selected Health centres, demonstrated a significant antibiotic resistance and they harboured plasmids of diverse sizes.