article · BMC Research Notes
A cross-sectional investigation assessed the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Shigella among 216 outpatients presenting with acute diarrhoea at Mekelle Hospital in Northern Ethiopia between August and November 2014. Shigella was isolated from 15 individuals, representing an overall prevalence of 6.9 percent, with two-thirds of positive cases identified in children under 15 years old. The occurrence of shigellosis was significantly linked to environmental and behavioural factors, specifically latrine availability, drinking water sources, and handwashing practices prior to meals. Laboratory testing revealed extensive drug resistance among the bacterial isolates: all were resistant to amoxicillin, while cotrimoxazole also exhibited high resistance, and 80 percent displayed multidrug resistance. In contrast, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin showed low resistance rates of 6.7 percent each, remaining effective therapeutic options. Continuous antibiotic surveillance alongside investments in sanitation and clean water infrastructure are essential to curb transmission.
Rising antimicrobial resistance poses a severe threat to managing bacterial diarrhoeal diseases, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children. Identifying high rates of multidrug resistance informs local healthcare providers on which common antibiotics are failing and highlights that fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin remain viable treatments. It also underscores that basic sanitation and clean water access remain critical interventions to prevent preventable outbreaks.
The findings provide early-stage epidemiological and susceptibility data that can inform diagnostic test developers, local healthcare providers, and public health authorities regarding effective treatment regimens. The abstract focuses entirely on clinical surveillance and basic risk factors rather than product development, and it does not indicate a direct pathway towards commercialisation or technology translation.
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BACKGROUND: Emergence of increased antimicrobial resistance of Shigella species is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries where increased misuse of antimicrobial agents occurs. There is no published data in the study area on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Shigella among acute diarrheal patients. This study was therefore, under taken to fill this gap. METHODS: Using cross sectional study method, stool specimens were collected from 216 patients with acute diarrhea at Mekelle Hospital from August to November 2014. Standard bacteriological methods were used to isolate and determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates, and data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Out of the total 216 participants, Shigella was isolated from 15 (6.9 %) of the participants. Ten (66.7 %) of the positive isolates were from children <15 years (p = 0.005). Latrine availability, source of drinking water and hand washing habits before meal were statistically significant with shigellosis (p < 0.05). Isolates of Shigella showed 100, 86.7 and 66.7 % resistance to amoxicillin, amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole respectively. Low levels of resistance were observed for norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin (6.7 % each). Overall, 80 % of the isolates showed multidrug resistance. CONCLUSION: Shigella isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin, amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole. However, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin were effective. Antibiotic surveillance is needed to prevent further emergence of drug resistant Shigella strains. More has to be done in the availability of latrine, supply of safe drinking water to the community to reduce the disease burden.
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DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1606-x
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