Transferable drug resistance in the gram-negative flora and the implication it has the treatment of urinary tract infection at Muhimbili Medical Centre

Abstract

Isolates resistant to various antibiotics were obtained from normal health human subjects in Birmingham (U.K.) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). The level of resistance observed was found to be quite high for both Dar es Salaam and Birmingham. Twenty four (24) percent or more of all isolates were resistant to 3 or more antibiotics regardless of whether the isolates were from Dar es Salaam or Birmingham. An attempt was made to transfer these resistances (assumed to be extrachromosQmal) to known recipients B.coli K12S and E.coliK12N', Isolates from patients with utLna'ry tract infections from Dar es SalaCl.jll were also used in the transfer experiments as donors. The procedure was repeated using 'un1rnown donors' and 'unknown recipients I E.coliK12 W31l0 containing R-plasmid RPI was used to monitor transfer efficiency. Transfer experiments were performed at 2SoC or 370C and in ashaking or stationary waterbath. This was in order to achieve the most efficient transfer and control for potentially temperature sensitive transfer mechanisms in donor strains. There was a marked difference in the transfer ability of R~factors between isolates from Birmingham. and those from Dar es Salaam; the latter being higher. Transfer between un1rnown donors and urllinown recipients was observed. However, this was extremely low. Transfer of drug resistance in Dar es Salaam isolates was used to delineate the role of R-factors in the . increasing bacterial resistance to drugs used in the treatment of urinary traet invections at the Muhimbili Medical Centre.