Characterization and Antibiogram of Vibrio cholerae isolates from a tertiary care hospital

Background: Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae still ranks high in the etiology of diarrhoeal diseases in several parts of India. Aim:To study the characteristics and anti-microbial resistance pattern of the Vibrio choleraestrains isolated in our hospital. Methods: Over a 2 year period, stool samples from clinically suspected cholera cases were screened and the isolates were identified by standard laboratory techniques. Vibrio cholerae isolates were confirmed by slide agglutination using antisera andanti-microbial susceptibility was carried out by Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method. Results: Of the 51 samples, 21 strains of Vibrio cholerae were isolated, all of which were identified as Vibrio cholerae bio type El Tor. Majority(85.71%) of the isolates were serotype Ogawa. Both sexes were equally affected with maximum number of cases seen in the age group 0 – 20 years. Resistance to ampicillin was seen in 61.9%, to tetracyclinein 38.1% and to ciprofloxacin in 23.8% of the isolates. None of the isolates were resistant to gentamicin and cephotaxime. Conclusion: Our present situation regarding drug resistance in Vibrio cholerae is a matter of concern. Therefore, the anti-microbial profile of Vibrio cholerae isolates should be under constant surveillance.