Escherichia coli Resistance: Antibiotic Classes and Trends

This report discusses the resistance of Escherichia coli to antibiotics, focusing on the classes of antibiotics and the trends observed. It highlights the need for critical assessment of factors affecting drug resistance in the management of E Coli.

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Escherichia coli resistance
The resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial agents has emerged to be an important
perspective in the medical arena, [1] .The usage of antibiotics has been greatly affected by
anti-bio-resistance. Antibiotics are widely used in preventing and treating bacterial infections.
Resistance to anti biotics occurs when there are changes in the use of medicines. The bacteria
can cause damage and harm to humans and animals, making harder to treat compared to those
treated with non-resistance bacteria. There is an urgent need on how antibiotics are prescribed
globally, [2]. Antibiotic resistance is prevalent across the world, with new resistance
mechanism spreading and causing dangerous threat on the ability to manage a common
infectious disease.
E Coli
Escherichia coli is a bacterial agent is found in the human intetstine and gut of
animals.. Most of the E Coli strains are beneficial and keep the digestive tract healthy, while
some strains can be dangerous causing diarrhea if contaminated food is ingested. E coli have
shown resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, and amoxicillin. Nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin,
and ciprofloxacin are however an empirical treatment for E Coli management,[3].Thus with
the known sensitive antibiotics, this study is of interest in the sense that it assess conventional
drugs such as aminopenicillin, lincosamides, and fluoroquinolones as compared to ampicillin,
ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance.
Antibiotic classes
There are various classes of antibiotics currently. Ciprofloxacin belongs to
Fluoroquinolones class; tetracyclines belong to tetracycline’s class while ampicillin belongs
to penicillin class.

Overview of antimicrobial resistance
Ciprofloxacin resistance to E coli
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
Escherichia coli resistance
to Ciprofloxacin (%)
Fluoroquinolones number
of prescriptions (millions)
Figure 1 E Coli resistance compared to anit biotic dosage offered
Aminopenicilin prescription compared to its corresponding resistance to E Coli
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Evolution of Escherichia
coli resistance to Ampicillin
(%)
aminopenicillins number
of prescriptions (millions)
Figure 2 Aminopeniclin prescription compared to its resistance to E coli

Macrolides prescription compared to its corresponding resistance
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Escherichia coli resistance
to tetracycline (%)
macrolides/lincosamides
number of prescriptions
(millions)
Figure 3 Macrolides dosage to corresponding tetracycline
Discussion
From the figures above it is evident that there is an increase resistance of E Coli to
known anti biotic treatment. In figure 1 above, there is a growing trend of resistance as
observed. E coli resistance to ciprofloxacin as shown indicates that it has superseded its
prescription and the resistance is on high trends.
In figure 2, the resistance of E coli to ampicillin goes with the amount of dosage
prescription offered. The increase in dosage administration leads to consequential increase in
its resistance. As the dosage increases, so do its resistance increases. Similarly, in figure 3,
tetracycline resistance is observed with an increased prescription of lincosamide antibiotic.
Conclusion
The current emergence of bacteria resistance globally is continuously indicating a
significant challenge on the efficiency and effectiveness of antibiotics. The results above
show similar trends as noted in other parts of the regions. This assessment of the three classes
of antibiotics shows an increasing trend of bacteria resistance over a long duration of time.
Hence there is a need for critical assessment on factors affecting drug resistance on the
management of E Coli.

References
1. Cohen, R., Bingen, E., Grimprel, E., Raymond, J., & Gendrel, D. Résistance aux
antibiotiques: un nouveau tournant à ne pas manquer. Archives de pédiatrie,
2011;4(18):359-361.
2. Kibret, M., & Abera, B. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of E. coli from clinical
sources in northeast Ethiopia. African health sciences 2011;11(3):40-45.
3. Michael, C. A., Dominey-Howes, D., & Labbate, M. The antimicrobial resistance
crisis: causes, consequences, and management. Frontiers in public health 2014;2:145.