Background: Multidrug-resistant
Escherichia coli
(MDR
E. coli) has become a major public health concern in Sudan and
many countries, causing failure in treatment with consequent huge health burden.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and susceptibility of MDR
E. coli isolated from patients in hospitals at Khartoum
State.
Methods: Between May to August 2011,
E. coli (n = 232) isolated from clinical specimens, identified, tested their antimicrobials
susceptibility and screened for extend spectrum â-lactamase production as per standard methods.
Results: Of the 232
E. coli isolates, the majority were from urine (65.1%). MDR
E. coli were present in 214 (92.2%). Of
these, the resistance rates were recorded to: amoxicillin 97.7%, cefuroxime 92.5%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 88.3%,
tetracycline 77.1%, nalidixic acid 72%, ceftriaxone 64%, ciprofloxacin 58.4%, ofloxacin 55.1%, amoxicillin-clavulanate 50.4%,
ceftazidime, gentamicin 35% each, nitrofurantoin 22.4%, chloramphenicol, tobramicin 18.2% each and amikacin 1.9%.
Overall MDR
E. coli, 53.3% were resistant to > 7 antimicrobial agents and ESBL was detected in 32.7%. Isolates from males
were more resistant than those from females (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:Drug-resistance surveillance and epidemiological analysis of patient data is need periodically and can be
informative for appropriate management of antimicrobial resistance.
