Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Children 0 – 24 Months in Calabar South L. G. A. of Cross River State, Nigeria

Diarrhea continues to be the scourge of children across the world especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Despite efforts by World Health Organization and other agencies, much work still remain to be done in combating diarrheal diseases caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the developing world including Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) children attending five nursery schools including Native nursery/primary school (Anantiga), Bank-dee nursery/primary school (Musaha), Golden nursery/primary school (Ekpo-Abasi), JOESAM nursery/primary school (Yellow Duke) and Ideal nursery/primary school (Palm street) in five major localities in Calabar South LGA between July 2014 and June 2015, were recruited in this study. Socio-demograhpic factors such as age, sex, weaning practices and parents’ occupation/educational level were obtained using structured questionnaires. Stool samples were examined macroscopically and microscopically, and stool culture was done using MacConkey agar and Sobitol MacConkey agar. Antibiotics sensitivity and serology tests were carried out. E. coli O157:H7 was identified in 14(9.33%) out of the 150 stool samples examined. The highest number of isolates was recovered from the 6 – 12 months age group having 9 (64.29%) in total. No isolates were recovered from the age group 0 – 5 months or from exclusively breastfeed infants. However, 5 (7.35%) isolates were recovered from infants that received mixed feeding while 9 (27.27%) from infants who received no breastfeeding (P > 0.05). Of the isolates, 12 (85.71%) were sensitive to amoxicillin, 10 (71.43%) to pefloxacin, 8 (57.14%) to gentamicin, 17 (73.91%) to sporfloxacin, 16 (69.57%) to ciprofloxacin and 7 (50.00%) to ampiclox, 4 (28.57%) were sensitive to zinacef and rocephin while only 2 (14.29%) were sensitive to streptomycin and septrin. No isolates were sensitive to erythromycin. E. coli O157:H7 is an important bacterial agent in infantile diarrhea. Improvement in nutritional status, weaning practices, socioeconomic status and personal hygiene will lead to a reduction in the spread and incidence of diarrhea due to bacterial agents (pathogens), especially E. coli O157:H7.