Increased Resistance to Tetracycline and Erythromycin in Vibrio cholerae Clinical Isolates Isolated from Patients with Cholera Disease during 2012-2013 Outbreaks in Iran

Aims Vibrio cholerae is one of the intestinal gram-negative bacteria, causing cholera disease in developing countries; the two serogroups of O1 and O139 are the main causes of diarrhea. The bacteria resistance pattern to antibiotics varies in different countries. The aim of this study was to determine the resistance pattern of the isolates to representative antibiotics. Materials & Methods A total of 20 V. cholerae clinical strains were isolated from patients with cholera in Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran during 2012-2013 outbreaks. After being identified by biochemical and molecular techniques, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for 6 antibiotics according to CLSI standards. Then, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also determined for tetracycline and erythromycin, using E-Test method. Findings All of the isolates were EL Tor biotype, O1 serogroup, and Inaba serotype. All of isolates were resistant to erythromycin and nalidixic acid, and 50% were resistant to tetracycline, while no resistance was observed against to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and ampicillin. Conclusion The sensitivity of all clinical isolates to antibiotics mentioned suggests that these antibiotics can likely be used in cholera disease treatment.