Frequency of Extended Spectrum β- Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli in Hospitalized and out Patient Children, Yasouj

Escherichia coli producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamase due to widespread resistance to many common antibiotics have led to numerous health problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of E. coli producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamase in pediatric inpatients and outpatients in Yasuj, Iran. The present cross-sectional study was carried out on 300 samples of E. coli isolated from children with diarrhea admitted or hospitalized in Imam Sajjad and private laboratories in Yasuj. Selective media and biochemical tests were applied to confirm the E. coli strains. Phenotypic screening of broad-spectrum beta-lactamase strains using the double-disc synergistic and sensitivity of the strains to 13 antibiotics by disk diffusion method was determined. The obtained data was analyzed by chi-square test. Twenty-six percent of E. coli isolates were able to produce broad-spectrum Beta-Lactamase whereas children younger than 2 years of age (9.85%) had the highest incidence of strains producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamase. 61.5% of positive cases of broad-spectrum beta-lactamase were identified in outpatients followed by 38.5% of hospitalized patients. ESBL strains were most resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics of ceftizoxim (50%), Cefixime (47.4%) and nalidixic acid (38.5%) and the least resistant to ciprofloxacin (8/3%) and imipenem (6/2 percent) respectively. Results of the present study revealed that the high prevalence of ESBL in patients. Therefore, continuous monitoring and early detection can play an important role in preventing the spread of these broad-spectrum beta-lactamase genes.