Escherichia coli in Saudi Arabia: An Overview of Antibiotic-Resistant Strains

Naiyf S. Alharbi

Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2848

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains are considered as the most important human pathogens. Health issues are increasing in complexity owing to the persistent emergence of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains, which have been isolated and detected worldwide, including Saudi Arabia. A review of the prevalent strains resistant to the standard antibiotics used in a local region is critical and may be beneficial at the national and international levels.  Treatment for E. coli infection has been highly difficult by the rise of resistance to most first-line antibiotics. The present study aimed to update the scientific information regarding E. coli strains, which have the ability to resist the standard drugs used to treat bacterial infections in Saudi Arabia. The data retrieved from https://scholar.google.com and Saudi Digital Library (https://sdl.edu.sa/) indicate that E. coli strains isolated from several sources in Saudi Arabia show resistance to almost all antibiotics, except 5th generation cephalosporins (ceftraolin and ceftobiprole), which no isolate in Saudi Arabia has been recorded to resist. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude and recommend that integrated monitoring and management of the antibiotics may reduce the health risks associated with antibiotic resistant E. coli strains.

KEYWORDS: Antibiotic; Escherichia coli; Resistance; Saudi Arabia

[ HTML Full Text]