Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Enteropathogenic E.coli (EPEC) pathotypes are belonging to enterobacteriaceae family that is known as agent of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in under 5 year old children.  These bacteria have high prevalence in developed and developing countries that may cause severe diarrhea even death. Prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of these pathotypes are different in various regions and are dependent on many factors. Awareness of the patterns is necessary for physicians in order to treat infections. This research is aimed to identify of EPEC pathotypes in diarrheal fewer than 5 years old children and study the patterns of antibiotic resistance of these strains in Tehran.

Methods: 300 samples were collected from children with diarrhea visited in children Hospital in Tehran. Bacterial isolates confirmed as E.coli species on the basis of standard bacterial and biochemical tests. All isolates E.coli species were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of eaeA (intimin) gene in terms of EPEC pathotypes. Then, antibiogram test for EPEC pathotypes was performed using 16 different antibiotic disces by disc diffusion agar (Kirby-Bauer) method.

Results: Among all specimens, 36(12%) isolates bearing eaeA gene were confirmed as EPEC using PCR. 22 specimens(61.1%)  62% of identified pathotypes were isolated from under 1 year old children. All pathotypes were sensitive to imipenem and meropenem. Antibiotic resistance toward amoxicillin and tetracycline23(63.9%)  (64%) was higher than others. Also 24 isolates(66.7%) (67%) showed multi-resistant pattern toward several routine antibiotics.

Conclusion:  Since EPEC pathotypes are diagnosed as agent of diarrhea in children in our country, identification of these pathotypes showed be made through novel techniques. Antibiotic resistance of EPEC pathotypes toward classic antibiotics including tetracycline and amoxicillin is increasing. Evaluation and detection of antibiotic resistance pattern of these pathotypes is very important for effective treatment and decreasing of resistance toward antibiotics