Serotypes and antibiogram of shigella species isolated in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Objective: To culture diarrhea stool in order to determine Shigella serotypes and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Main Findings: In the 6 years period (January 1991- December 1999), 4153 stool specimens from patients were cultured. Shigella species were isolated from 59 saillples. 32 of these were from children. Sh. Flexmcri was the commonest isolate (66%). followed by Sh. Sonnei (14%,). of the strains showing resistance the highest level of resistance was to tetracycline (90%). followed by ampicillin (73% ), cotrimoxazole (64% ) and chloramphenicol (61%). Several resistance phenotypes were present: the commonest pattern was resistance to a combination of tetracyclinc, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. Conclusion; Continuous, local laboratory surveillance is justified, to monitor drug resistance and also, guide empiric treatment of dysentery.