CURRENT STATUS ON BIOTYPING, ANTIBIOGRAM AND PLASMID PROFILES OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI ISOLATES

The antibiogram, plasmid profiles and biotypes of 220 clinical isolate s of Escherichia coli obtained from different sources were determined using standard procedures. Results on biotypes showed a total of 10 bi otypes of which 24(10.9%), 10(4.54%), 86(39.10%) belonged to biotypes I, II and III respectively. 4(1.81%), 2(0.11%) and 34(15.65%) were gro uped under biotypes X, VIII and V respectively while 40(18.18%) belong ed to biotype IV. The predominant biotypes were III and IV while bioty pe VIII was the least common. Results on the antibiogram showed six di stinct antibiotic resistance patterns exhibited by the Escherichia col i strains isolated. 50(22.72%) of the strains showed resistance to tet racycline and ampicillin (Tet(R), Amp(R), 17(7.73%), 74(33.63%) and 43 (19.54%) showed resistance patterns to tetracycline and sulphonamide ( Tet(R),SUI(R)), tetracycline, sulphonamide, ampicillin, streptomycin ( Tet(R), SUI(R), AMp(R), Str(R)) and tetracycline, ampicillin, sulphona mide, streptomycin and cotrimoxazole (Tet(R), AMp(R), Sul(R), Str(R), Ts(R)) respectively. The predominant resistance pattern (Tet(R), Sul(R ), AMp(R), Str(R)) constituted 33.6% of the isolated strains while the least pattern was exhibited by 15(6.82%) of strains showing resistanc e to tetracycline, ampicillin and sulphonamide (Tet(R), AMp(R), SUI(R) ). Out of the 220 isolates, 132 (60%) were found to harbour plasmids o f molecular weights ranging from 0.62 to 60 kilobase (kb). This study has revealed that our local isolates of E. coli are biotypable using a combination of fermentation patterns and mortility. In addition, most of the isolates harboured plasmids and showed multiple resistance to antibiotics; a finding that should be borne in mind during chemotherap y of E. coli infections in our environment.