Carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae by healthy school children from two remote villages in western Cameroon

Abstract

Carriage of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae by healthy children can increase the risk of developing a lethal pathological infection. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriage among children in remote villages in western Cameroon. We collected fresh stool samples from 110 healthy primary school children between 2 to 5 years old in two remote villages. The bacteria isolates were characterized using the Api 20E gallery, disc diffusion, and double-disc synergy test. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Data analysis indicated that a total of 24 children in 110 (22%) investigated were positive to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Moreover, 24 (67%) out of 36 bacteria isolates were ESBL producers and 15 (61%) out of 24 being Escherichia coli. Other ESBL-producing bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae (3%) and Kluyvera spp (3%). We also isolated a small proportion of bacteria showing resistance to high-level cephalosporins, which overall represented 33% of the total bacteria isolates. Furthermore, risk factors associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were the use of pesticides in agriculture and farming practice. The current result suggests that frequent contact to antibiotics is not the only reason for the development of resistance and confirm that resistance can be induced by chemicals from pesticide origin.