Prevalence of Aeromonas species and Escherichia coli in stool samples of primary school children in Ofada, Ogun state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Diarrhoea is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in childhood. Bacterial diarrhoea is a common disorder. Aeromonas species and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are some of the aetiological agents associated with diarrhoea in children.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Aeromonas species and E. coli in the stool samples of primary school children as well as the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the isolates.
Methods: Stool samples were obtained from pupils (diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic) aged four to eighteen years in two primary schools in Ofada. The stool specimens were processed by standard microbiological methods and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using disc diffusion method.
Results: Out of 104 stool samples, E. coli was isolated from seven (6.73%) stool samples while three stool samples yielded other pathogens such as Salmonella species, Shigella species, and Proteus vulgaris. Aeromonas spp was not isolated. Pathogenic E. coli was more prevalent among pupils aged 11 to 15 years. The susceptibility of E. coli to commonly used antibiotics (such as tetracycline and ampicillin) was < 30% compared to > 70% for Augmentin, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid. E. coli showed 100% susceptibility to only gentamicin.
Conclusion: E. coli was the predominant bacterial agent isolated from stool samples of school children in Ofada, Ogun State. Gentamicin may be recommended as an effective antibiotic agent against E. coli diarrhoeal diseases in the population studied.