Colistin-resistant Escherichia coli from hospital and community nexus: public and environmental health concern

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest encounters for human health globally, which is associated with elevated morbidity and increased economic burdens. Colistin represents an important resort in treating severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant difficult-to-treat Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of colistin-resistant E. coli (CREC) in community and hospital sources and their associated risk factors. Eighty-five samples from hospital and community sources were screened using cultural and biochemical techniques and confirmed via Analytical Profile Index 20E. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was determined using disc diffusion procedure and the phenotypic virulence factors were determined using standard culture protocols. The occurrence of CREC based on sample types includes cow carcass (26.7%), abattoir effluents (20%) and hospital effluents (8.6%). Pumpkin leaf, carrots and smoked fish were negative for CREC. The percentage distribution of CREC positive samples based on sample sources were slaughterhouses (77%) and hospital environment (33%) with open markets showing no case of CREC. Overall, CREC positive samples were 9/85 (10.6%). CREC demonstrated 100% ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole resistance. The multiple antibiotics resistance profile of the Escherichia coli in this study ranged from 0.83 – 0.46. The phenotypic virulence distribution of CREC were lipase activity (33.3%), β-hemolytic activity (22.2%) and gelatinase activity (22.2%).The detection of CREC in both community and hospital environment allays a notable threat to human and animal health. Public enlightenment campaign and proper education against indiscriminate antibiotics usage as animal feed and growth promoters coupled with routine antibiotic resistance monitoring is crucial to curtail the dissemination of superbugs