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Background & objectives: Shigella species are one of the most common causes of dysentery and sometimes death, especially in children and those with immunodeficiency. The variety of causative agents (Shigella species) and the development of drug-resistant strains make it difficult to select an appropriate antibiotic for the treatment of shigellosis. One of the most important factors involved in the resistance of Shigella isolates is the presence of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) genes. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of blaPER, blaGES and blaVEB genes in Shigella sonnei isolated from patients with dysentery using multiplex-PCR method and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these isolates.
Methods: A total of 60 isolates of Shigella sonnei were collected from different hospitals and medical ‎diagnostic laboratories in Kerman province. Specimens from different age groups were cultivated in special media ‎and confirmed by biochemical tests. The presence of blaPER, blaGES and blaVEB genes were ‎investigated using specific primers and multiplex-PCR method. Antibiotic susceptibility test was ‎performed by disc diffusion method based on CLSI standards. ‎
Results: Multiplex-PCR results showed three samples had blaPER gene, but none of them had blaVEB or blaGES ‎genes. Also, the results of antibiotic susceptibility test showed the highest resistance for amoxicillin- clavulanic ‎acid (53.3%) antibiotic and the highest sensitivity for tetracycline (85%) antibiotic.‎
Conclusions: The results of the experiments indicated the presence of blaPER gene in Shigella sonnei isolates. In ‎addition, the results showed high resistance of isolates to amoxicillin clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone ‎antibiotics. Therefore, careful medical care and proper and timely use of appropriate antibiotics are essential to ‎prevent the spread of resistant isolates. ‎