Abstract

Indiscriminate and irrational use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of Salmonellatyphi (S. typhi) antibiotic resistance and the rapid spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing strains conferring resistance. This is worrisome, threatening antibiotic therapy and placing a substantial clinical and financial burden on the healthcare system, patients, and their families. The research aimed to detect molecularly extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing S. typhi isolates in patients attending Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BhUTH), Jos, Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.  353 stool samples were collected from patients attending BhUTH and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiotics susceptibility testing was carried out using the disc diffusion method, and the double disc synergy test (DDST) for phenotypic ESBL production. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and agarose gel-electrophoresis were done to detect the presence of ESBL genes. S. typhi prevalence was 37(10.4%). Antibiotics susceptibility profile showed the highest resistance to Augmentin and Ampicillin (100%) and less resistance to Nitrofurantoin (0%) and Cefuroxime (24.3%). The S. typhi isolates had CRX-AUG-AMP-AMX-STR-CH and CRX-AUG-AMP-AMX-STR as the most frequent resistant phenotypes (10.8%) with multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates (73%). ESBL producing isolates were 5(13.5%). PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed the presence of blaCTX-M 2(40.0%), blaSHV 3(60.0%), and blaTEM 5(100.0%) on 857, 615, and 972 base pairs respectively. S. typhi isolates showed higher susceptibility to Nitrofurantoin and Cefuroxime. Prompt monitoring of antibiotic usage, resistance to antibiotics, and public health education are therefore necessary to reduce bacterial disease burden.

Keywords

Molecular detection Salmonella typhi blaCTX-M blaSHV Antibiotic resistance