ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND SERO-GROUPS OF SHIGELLA AMONG PAEDIATRIC OUTPATIENTS IN SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Shigelln sero-groups and resistance pattern of
isolates to commonly used antibiotics in Jimma.
Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Setting: The study was conducted in Jimma, southwest Ethiopia.
Subjects: A total of 384 paediatric out-patients with diarrhoea aged 14 years and below were
studied.
Methods: Stool specimens were collected from children presenting with diarrhoea using
Cary-Blair transport medium and buffer treated swabs from Jimma hospital and Jimma
health centre. Isolation, biochemical characterisation, sero-grouping and antibiotic sensitivity
testing were performed according to standard methodology in the Microbiology laboratory
of Jimma University.
Results: Out of the 77 Shigelln strains isolated, sero-group A comprised 29.9%, B 40.3%, C
19.5% and D 10.4%. Among all Shigelln sero-groups, highest resistance was encountered to
tetracycline (63.6%), ampicillin (70.1%), cephalothin (57.1%), trirnethoprimsulphamethoxazole
(32.5 %)and chloramphenicol(40.3%) while least resistance was observed
to gentamicin (1.3%), polymyxin B (3.9%) and nalidixic acid (6.5%).
Conclusion: Gentamicin, polymyxin B and nalidixic acid were found to be the drugs of choice
for cases related with shigellosis.