Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter Species and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children with Diarrhea at Randomly Selected Public Health Facilities in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

Kebede Araya Abay; Girmay Desalegn; Yemane Weldu; Gebrecherkos Teame Gebrehiwot; Gebreselema Gebreyohannes; Letemicheal Negash Welekidan; Kibra Hailu Desta; Yohanns Tekle Asfaw; Ataklti Gessese Teka; Mulugeta Tilahun Gebremedhin

doi:10.2147/IDR.S438370

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter Species and Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children with Diarrhea at Randomly Selected Public Health Facilities in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

Infect Drug Resist. 2024 Feb 8:17:495-505. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S438370. eCollection 2024.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dr. Tewelde Legesse College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
² Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Biomedical Research and Technology Transfer, Tigray Health Research Institute, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Mekelle Institute of Technology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Health, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Campylobacter species are the most predominant bacterial agents to cause diarrhea in under-five children. It poses a serious challenge to public health worldwide with ongoing acquisition of resistance to different antimicrobials with multiple patterns. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter species, and associated factors among under-five children with diarrhea in selected public health facilities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among under-five children with diarrhea using convenient sampling. Health facilities were selected using a simple random sampling method. The stool samples collected from 214 study participants were transported and processed following standard microbiological protocols. Campylobacter isolates were identified using Gram staining, biochemical test, serological test, and aerobic growth at 25°C. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of isolates were performed using the Kirby-Bauer method. Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 25.0. Association between variables was assessed using Chi-square test and Logistic regression, with P ≤ 0.05.

Results: The subject's mean age was 31.3 (±3.9) months. Of the 214 samples cultured, 14 (6.5%) of them were positive for Campylobacter species with 95% CI (3.3-10.3). Out of the isolated species, 12 (85.7%) were Campylobacter jejuni /Campylobacter coli and 2 (14.3%) were other Campylobacter species. Bottle feeding and history of direct contact to domestic animals were associated with Campylobacter species (AOR=5.13, CI=1.21-21.6, p=0.026 and AOR=4.93, CI=1.33-18.17, P=0.016), respectively. Campylobacter isolates were highly resistant to ciprofloxacin 5 (35.7%), and tetracycline 3 (21.4%).

Conclusion: A higher incidence of Campylobacter species was obtained in children who were bottle-fed and who had a history of direct contact with domestic animals. The isolates were highly resistant to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. These findings indicate that special attention is needed for better management of Campylobacter drug resistance in under-five children. To enhance and support our current findings, further research using molecular techniques is needed to identify the resistant and virulent genes of the bacterial isolates.

Keywords: Campylobacter species; Mekelle city; drug susceptibility; gastroenteritis; prevalence; risk factors; under-five children.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Mekelle University. Dr. Tewelde College of Health Sciences also provided the reagents required to perform the respective laboratory investigations. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.