Drug resistance in diarrhogenic escherichia coli [ETEC,EPEC]

A total of 429 enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic E. coli isolated from diarrhoeal cases during 1986 and 1989 was tested and compared for resistance against 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents by disk diffusion method. The highest resistance in both years and among all strains was against ampicillin and the least against gentamicin. Multiresistance was common among the isolates with A/C/T/SXT and A/C/T/SXT/S comprising the most prevalent pattern. This study, which is also the first report of antimicrobial drug resistance among ETEC, underlines the need for regular surveillance and its bearing on drug policy is discussed