cefotaxime and Dysentery

The Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an emerging foodborne pathogen. The proportion of cases attributed to STEC in an episode of diarrhea in the Faisalabad region of Pakistan was investigated. In addition, as increase in Shiga toxin (Stx) release after exposure to various antimicrobial agents is widely reported, we also elucidated the in vitro effects of three commonly used antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin, and cefotaxime) on Stx release. Isolation and detection of STEC was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction, followed by phenotypic characterization. In vitro Stx release from isolated STEC was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Stx-induced verocytotoxicity was quantified using cytotoxicity detection assay. STEC was detected in 5 (21.7%) of 23 patients. Exposure to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin, gentamicin, and cefotaxime resulted in a considerable decrease in toxin release and level of cytotoxicity in most of the STEC isolates when compared with control (without antibiotic exposure). Exposure to sub-MIC of ampicillin resulted in a relative increase in Stx release and cytotoxicity (p

Topics: Adhesins, Bacterial; Ampicillin; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cefotaxime; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlorocebus aethiops; Disease Outbreaks; Dysentery; Escherichia coli Infections; Escherichia coli Proteins; Gentamicins; Hemolysin Proteins; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pakistan; Phenotype; Shiga Toxins; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli; Vero Cells; Virulence