Antibacterial Activities of Various Antibiotics Against Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Antibiotics are a vital tool in the treatment of a wide range of bacterial diseases, but their overuse and abuse are leading to bacterial resistance. Objectives: To check the antibacterial activities of various antibiotics against E. coli. Methods: Collection of samples was done from patients at the Fatima Memorial Hospital's pathology department in Lahore, Pakistan, for this investigation. Total of 170 clinical isolates of E. coli were isolated from all samples collected. Conventional culture and biochemical tests were used for the identification of bacteria. Antibacterial activity were assessed by comparing antibiotic susceptibility patterns of all clinical isolates to commercial antibiotic discs (cefazolin, cefepime, cefixime, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefuroxime, cephalothin, amikacin, amoxycillin, ampicillin, Augmentin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, gentamycin, imipenem, levofloxacin, linezolid, meropenem, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, rifampicin, and vancomycin) by using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Antibiotics which showed high sensitivity against Escherichia coli were imipenem (100%), nitrofurantoin (100%), gentamycin (99%) and amikacin (92%). Escherichia coli were showing high resistance to meropenem (100%), ceftazidime (98%), cefepime (78%), ofloxacin (78%), cefuroxime (78%), cefazolin (74%) and ciprofloxacin (65%). Conclusions: We concluded that meropenem, ampicillin, cefuroxime and cefepime showed widespread resistance against all E. coli clinical isolates. There is need to improve the technical facilities to minimize the antibiotic resistance by selecting appropriate antibiotics and proper hand washing recommended.