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Journal of Medical Sciences

Year: 2007 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 255-262
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Authors

Hala A.R. El Metwally

Hoda A.H. Ibrahim

Marwa N. El-Athamna

Maysa A. Amer

Keywords

Diarrheal diseases continue to be one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among young children in developing countries. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the multiplex PCR as a rapid diagnostic tool for simultaneous detection of 3 categories of diarrheagenic E. coli (ETEC, EPEC, EHEC) in one PCR reaction using 6 virulent genes; to determine the prevalence of these 3 categories among Egyptian children with and without diarrhea and get an idea about their antibiotic resistance pattern. The material of this study comprised stool specimens collected from two groups of children: Group I included 200 children suffering from acute diarrhea attending Alexandria University Children`s Hospital while Group II comprised 100 age-matched children who are not suffering from diarrhea and served as the control group. The multiplex PCR detected target genes of diarrheagenic E. coli in 25 out of the 200 diarrheal stools specimens (12.5%). Genes of ETEC (lt&st) were detected in 16 specimens (8%). Gene of EPEC (eae) was detected in 7 specimes (3.5%). Genes for both ETEC and EPEC were detected in 2 specimens (1%) (eae, bfp&st) denoting mixed infection. Genes for EHEC were not detected in any of the diarrheal or control specimens. In the control group genes for diarrheagenic E. coli were detected in 3 specimens (3%) which is statistically much less significant than the group of diarrhea. Resistance of diarrheagenic E. coli strains to ampicillin (76%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (56%) and tetracycline (56%) was common, while resistance to cephalosporins and quinolone antibiotics was rarely detected. In conclusion, we recommend the use of multiplex PCR system to evaluate the role of different categories of diarrheagenic E. coli in Egyptian children.
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