European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREVALENCE OF EXTENDED SPECTRUM BETA LACTAMASE PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS ATTENDING FAITH MEDIPLEX HOSPITAL, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

*Ehiaghe J.I. and 1Bulus A.A.

ABSTRACT

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) poses a significant threat to healthcare due to their ability to confer resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, limiting treatment options for infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria. This aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli isolated from patients attending Faith Mediplex, Benin city, Nigeria. A total of one hundred isolates of Escherichia coli were confirmed using gram staining and biochemical tests from clinical samples which included urine, pus, endocervical swab and wound swab. ESBL screening was done using the double disc method while antimicrobial susceptibility test was done using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The results showed that the overall prevalence of ESBL producing E. coli was 24%. Females exhibited a higher prevalence (66.7%) compared to males (33.3%), though no significant age-related differences were observed. Among clinical specimens, urine samples had the highest ESBL positivity (66.7%), followed by wound and endocervical swabs (16.7%), with no positive cases in pus samples. Inpatient prevalence (54.2%) was higher than outpatient prevalence (45.8%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed Imipenem as the most effective antibiotic (70.0% sensitivity), while most other antibiotics, including Augmentin and Ceftriaxone, showed high resistance (71.0% to 89.0%). In conclusion, result from this study shows the need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship and targeted infection control strategies to manage the high prevalence and significant resistance patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in this Benin City.

Keywords: Beta lactamases, Extended spectrum, Antibiotics, Clinical specimens, Gram negative, Susceptibility.