PPREVALENCE AND DETECTION OF ESBL PRODUCING E. COLI FROM FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, EKITI STATE
Abstract
ABSTRACT Infections caused by ESBL-Ec lead to severe illnesses and significant burdens on healthcare
systems, particularly in hospitals, which serve as reservoirs and hubs for pathogen transmission.
Despite the known threat, data on the prevalence and distribution of ESBL-Ec in regions such as
Ekiti State, Nigeria, are limited. The Federal Medical Center in Ekiti State lacks comprehensive
data on these resistant bacteria, hindering the development of effective infection control strategies
and treatment protocols. The study involved screening E. coli isolates for ESBL genes using
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The presence of the blaTEM gene was detected and analyzed
through gel electrophoresis. The blaTEM gene was successfully amplified in lanes 3, 5, 9, and 12
14, indicating its presence in these samples, while lanes 1, 2, and 10-11 showed negative results.
The results show a very high incidence of ESBL producing clinical isolates. The implications of
which are the necessity for circumspection in prescription of antibiotics, appropriate hospital waste
disposal and efficient hospital sewage treatment to prevent and limit environmental spread.
Furthermore, regular surveillance is necessary including more detailed molecular studies as well
as research in the prevalence studies on ESBL-producing E. coli in this region to get a fuller picture
of the extent of the problem.
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