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Antibiotic resistance ofEscherichia coli in fecal samples of healthy people in two different areas in an industrialized country

Antibiotikaresistenz von Escherichia coli in Stuhlproben gesunder Personen in zwei verschiedenen Regionen eines Industrielandes

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Summary

Fecal samples of 310 healthy persons, from two populations from different areas in the Netherlands, were examined for the presence ofEscherichia coli resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin. High prevalences of resistance were found in both populations, ranging from 28% for trimethoprim to 89% for ampicillin. The percentages of the fecal samples with a dominantly resistantE. coli flora (> 50% resistance) were distinctly lower, ranging from 1% for nitrofurantoin to 21% for tetracycline. No significant differences in the level of resistance were observed between these two comparable populations in two different areas. The susceptibilities to 11 antimicrobial agents of 456 at random isolatedE. coli were determined. The percentages of resistance varied widely: from 80% for chloramphenicol to 9% for nitrofurantoin. Only 19% of the isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested and 14% were resistant to more than four of the agents tested. Great differences in resistance rates between the two populations examined were seen for chloramphenicol (80% to 41%) and trimethoprim (16% to 36%). The results of this study underscore the presence of a human reservoir of antibiotic resistant microorganisms.

Zusammenfassung

Escherichia coli-Resistenz gegen Ampicillin, Tetracyclin, Sulfamethoxazol, Trimethoprim und Nitrofurantoin wurde in Isolaten aus Stuhlproben von 310 gesunden Personen aus zwei Bevölkerungsgruppen verschiedener Regionen der Niederlande geprüft. In beiden Populationen fanden sich hohe Resistenzraten von 28% gegen Trimethoprim bis 89% gegen Ampicillin. Der Prozentsatz von Stuhlproben mit dominant resistenterE. coli-Flora (mehr als 50% resistente Stämme) war eindeutig geringer mit 1% für Nitrofurantoin und 21 für Tetracyclin. Der Grad der Resistenz war zwischen den vergleichbaren Populationen dieser zwei verschiedenen Regionen nicht signifikant verschieden. Die Empfindlichkeit der von 456 Personen isoliertenE. coli-Stämmen gegen 11 Antibiotika wurde untersucht. Die Resistenzraten zeigten erhebliche Unterschiede von 80% für Chloramphenicol bis 9% für Nitrofurantoin. Nur 19% der Isolate waren gegen alle Testantibiotika empfindlich, 14% waren gegen mehr als vier der Testsubstanzen resistent. Die beiden Populationen wiesen große Unterschiede in den Resistenzraten gegen Chloramphenicol (80% gegenüber 41%) und Trimethoprim (16% gegenüber 36%) auf. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie bestätigen das Vorliegen eines Reservoirs an resistenten Mikroorganismen beim Menschen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Internal Medicine, State University of Limburg, P. O. Box 616, NL-6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    M. Bonten M. D.

  2. Dept. of Medical Microbiology, State University of Limburg, P. O. Box 616, NL-6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    E. Stobberingh Ph. D., J. Philips & A. Houben

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  1. M. Bonten M. D.
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Bonten, M., Stobberingh, E., Philips, J. et al. Antibiotic resistance ofEscherichia coli in fecal samples of healthy people in two different areas in an industrialized country. Infection 20, 258–262 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710790

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