Abstract:
Background and Objectives: Shigellosis, an acute diarrhoeal disease, remains a major public
health problem in developing countries. The increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance of
Shigella isolates have complicated the treatment of shigellosis. The purpose of present study
was to determine the incidence of Shigella species and their antimicrobial resistance patterns
for the better management of shigellosis in children. Material and methods: The study was
conducted in a tertiary care hospital in the Department of Microbiology, between June 2009 to
May 2010. Stool samples were collected from paediatric age group. Shigella isolation,
identification and speciation were done by using simplified phenotypic identification scheme
and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of these isolates was studied. Results : A total of 128 stool
samples were studied, out of which Shigella species accounted for 10.1%, E.coli accounted for
57.8%, Klebseilla species accounted for 20.3% and Pseodomonas species accounted for
15%.Resistance pattern of Shigella species to various drugs were, Co –trimoxazole (76.9%),
Doxycycline (69.2%), Amoxycillin (100%), Cefotaxime (69.2%), Ceftriaxone (69.2%),
Gentamicin (61.5%), Nalidixic acid (100%) and Ciprofloxacin (69.2%). All the Shigella isolates
were sensitive to Amikacin. Conclusion : The predominant shigella species isolated in this
study was Shigella flexneri. The present study demonstrates that Shigella species showing
significant increase in resistance to several commonly used antimicrobial agents. The results
suggest reconsideration of the empiric use of these antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of
Shigellosis and the findings, stress the need for ongoing drug resistance surveillance.
