Medecine Tropicale
Volume 55, Issue 4, 1995, Pages 351-353

Sensitivity to antibiotics of epidemic strains of Vibrio cholerae and Shigella dysenteriae 1 isolated in Rwanda refugee camps in Zaire [SENSIBILITE AUX ANTIBIOTIQUES DE SOUCHES EPIDEMIQUES DE VIBRIO CHOLERAE ET SHIGELLA DYSENTERIAE 1 ISOLEES DANS DES CAMPS DE REFUGIES RWANDAIS AU ZAIRE] (Article)

Cavallo J.-D.* , Niel L. , Talarmin A. , Dubrous P.
  • a Laboratoire de Biologie, Hopital d'Instr. des Armees Begin, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 St-Mande, France
  • b Laboratoire de Biologie, Hopital d'Instr. des Armees Begin, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 St-Mande, France
  • c Laboratoire de Biologie, Hopital d'Instr. des Armees Begin, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 St-Mande, France
  • d Laboratoire de Biologie, Hopital d'Instr. des Armees Begin, 69 Avenue de Paris, 94160 St-Mande, France

Abstract

Multiresistance of epidemic enteric bacteria to antibiotics greatly complicates treatment, and in some cases prophylaxis, of severe invasive gastroenteritis. During the summer of 1994, two epidemics of diarrhea, one due to Vibrio cholerae and the other to Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1, occurred in refugee camps in Zaire. The sensitivity to antibiotics of 13 Vibrio cholerae and 20 Shigella dysenteriae 1 isolated from the Goma and Bukavu camps was determined by measurement of the Agar Minimal Inhibitory Concentration. Multiresistance to tetracyclins, aminopenicillins, trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, and nifuroxazide was observed. After intensive treatment mutant forms of both bacteria resistant to nalidixic acid rapidly appeared. Only fluoroquinolones remained active on these mutant strains, but the availability of this agent in Africa is restricted due to cost. The most effective way of preventing resistance is to limit the spread of enteric infections by health education and improvement of hygiene. This can be difficult during wartime.

Author Keywords

Rwanda epidemic Vibrio cholerae Shigella dysenteriae multiresistance

Index Keywords

vibrio cholerae serotyping Drug Resistance, Multiple dysentery quinoline derived antiinfective agent refugee tetracycline derivative Drug Resistance, Microbial nifuroxazide sulfamethoxazole shigella dysenteriae nalidixic acid aminopenicillin Rwanda human Refugees trimethoprim ethnology Democratic Republic Congo cholera Humans Dysentery, Bacillary Democratic Republic of the Congo Article major clinical study multidrug resistance health education microbiological examination microbiology antibiotic resistance Microbial Sensitivity Tests shigellosis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0029554519&partnerID=40&md5=1e42e9eae0ccbd65136ddbf12240284d
ISSN: 0025682X
Cited by: 17
Original Language: French