Abstract

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Diarrhoea diseases remain the second leading cause of death among children under five years globally. Nearly one in every five child deaths are due to diarrhoea, further compounded by antimicrobial resistance. As a result, better understanding of childhood diarrhoea occurrence can perhaps help reduce associated morbidity and mortality rates. This study was conducted to determine the multiple antibiotic resistance indices of Shigella flexineri and Salmonella enterica from diarrhoeic children less than five years from selected hospitals in Kaduna. A total of 264 stool samples were collected from children attending selected hospitals in the Kaduna metropolis. Standard methods involving microbiological, biochemical and molecular analysis using PCR and 16S rRNA molecular characterizations were employed in identifying bacteria associated with diarrhoea in children (0-5) years. Out of the 264 stools examined, a total of 162 (61.4%) were from males, while 102 (38.6%) were from females. The highest incidence was observed in children of 1-24 months of age and the least in children of 4-5 years of age. A total of 97 stool samples (36.7%) were positive for Shigella and Salmonella species, out of which 97, 60(22.7%) were Shigella and 37(14%) Salmonella. The multiple antimicrobial resistance index of these isolates revealed that 100% of the isolates had a MAR index of 0.5 and above, and showed significant resistance against Augmentin, Amoxacillin, Ampicillin-Cloxacillin (Ampiclox) Erythromycin and Gentamycin. The least resistance was observed against imipenem (45%). The high Multiple Antibiotic Resistance index of the isolates indicates previous exposure to antibiotics and the development of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Keywords: Diarrhoea, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella enterica, Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MARI).