Original Article


Increasing clinical resistance rate of Shigella sonnei to cefotaxime in Jiangsu Province, China, between 2012 and 2015

Huimin Qian, Guoye Liu, Yin Chen, Ping Ma, Xiaoxiao Kong, Lu Zhou, Jie Hong, Changjun Bao, Bing Gu

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Shigella sonnei (S. sonnei) and characterize the mechanism of its increasing resistance to cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin agent between 2012 and 2015.
Methods: We investigated the drug resistance in 95 isolates of S. sonnei by K-B dilution method and isolates with the extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.
Results: Over a 4-year period, the resistance rate of S. sonnei to cefotaxime increased from 31.6% to 64.3%, between 2012 and 2015. Molecular characterization of the ESBL genes, comprising 28 strains of CTX-M-1 group: blaCTX-M-55 (n=22), blaCTX-M-3 (n=3) and blaCTX-M-15 (n=3); 11 strains of CTX-M-9 group: blaCTX-M-14 (n=9) and blaCTX-M-65 (n=2), and 36 strains with blaTEM-1 gene. None of S. sonnei isolates carried blaCTX-M-2 group and SHV-type.
Conclusions: The antimicrobial resistance rate of S. sonnei to cefotaxime significantly increased. Accordingly, regular surveillance of the cephalosporin-resistant S. sonnei should be emphasized. Moreover, exploration of the mechanism underlying the resistance of S. sonnei to cefotaxime contributes to the prophylaxis of further emergence of drug resistance.

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