Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Cronobacter sakazakii

Abstract

Background: Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging opportunistic bacterium whose presence in powdered infant formulas has been reported in several literatures. Infections such as necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis and severe meningitis common to both premature and full-term infants have been linked to C. sakazakii. Objectives: The objectives were to determine antibiotic susceptibility profile of C. sakazakii using known antibiotics and to determine the time-kill of C. sakazakii by known antibiotics. Methods: The antibiotics susceptibility of C. sakazakii and the time-kill were carried out using standard methods. Results: The antibiotics susceptibility results showed that out of forty four C. sakazakii isolates tested, 44 (100%) were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, 27 (61.36%) to Gentamycin and 17 (38.64%) to Streptomycin. The time-kill curve showed that both Ciprofloxacin and Gentamycin were able to kill C. sakazakii at 240 minutes. Conclusion: Out of the three antibiotics effective against C. sakazakii, Ciprofloxacin and Gentamycin were able to kill C. sakazakii at 240 minutes. Thus, this suggests that Ciprofloxacin and Gentamycin will be effective therapeutic agents against C. Sakazakii.

Keywords: Cronobacter sakazakii, powdered infant formulas, antibiotic susceptibility profile, time- kill