Antibiogram of enterovirulent Escherichia coli from stool specimens of HIV patients with diarrhea in Southwest Nigeria

Diarrheal diseases are frequent complications seen in patients with Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection. The etiological spectrum of enteric pathogens in these patients is broad, and theseinclude, bacteria, parasites, fungi and viruses. Escherichia coli (E.coli) strains are well-known bacterialagents of diarrhea in these patients, and, these can be life-threatening. There have been reports of theemergence of multidrug resistant E.coli among these patients, and this necessitates the study of theantibiogram of strains of this organism in this environment. This study was therefore conducted todetermine the antibiotic susceptibility or resistance pattern of enterovirulent E.coli strains from stoolsof HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in our environment. Ninety-eight strains of E.coli identified andconfirmed as pathogens of diarrhea in HIV- seropositive patients were included in this study. They weresubjected to antibiotic susceptibility test, using the disc diffusion method. High resistant rates weredemonstrated towards tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanate and amoxicillin, theantibiotics commonly used in this environment to treat diarrhea. This therefore calls for theenforcement of judicious use of antibiotics in this environment to control the situation.