Esherichia coli O157:H7 Serotypes Isolation from Children in Stool Samples

Abstract

Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 is a recently recognized human pathogen associated with hemorrhagic colitis. This work was therefore aimed at isolating Esherichia coli O157 from human stool. A total of 100 stool samples were collected from patients with age ranging from (0-05) years, statistical analysis of the risk factors showed that only zero to five years age range of the respondents had a significant statistical difference of 0.012 (P<0.05). The presumptive Esherichia coli isolates that appeared as pink flat lactose fermenting on MacConkey Agar and green metallic sheen on Eosin Methylene Blue agar were picked and confirmed biochemically as Esherichia coli using biochemical test kit. The confirmed E. coli isolates were then cultured on Sorbitol MacConkey Agar which shows non sorbitol fermenting. Detection of E. coli O157:H7 on SMAC medium had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 85%, and an accuracy of 86%. SMAC medium stool culture is a simple, inexpensive, rapid, and reliable means of detecting E. coli O157:H7. Although 1.39% prevalence rate of Esherichia coli O157 was obtained it is pertinent to note that, Esherichia coli O157 is becoming a public health threat because of the debilitating effects it has on humans and also due to its low infectivity dose. There is therefore, the need for more public awareness to educate our citizens on ways of improving on the unsanitary environment.

Keywords

• diarrhoea
• risk factors
• public health threat
• escherichia coli o157: h7
• smac medium
• low infectivity dose.