April 04, 2012
E. coli lives commensally in the gut, but pathogenic strains are also a leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This graphic, adapted from a 2009 WHO report, shows percentages of E. coli samples resistant to ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Bowel and urine cultures were obtained between 2002 and 2005 from pregnant women residing in two large metropolitan areas in South Africa (Brits and Durban) and India (Vellore, Mumbai, Delhi). The data show high levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin among community E. coli isolates in India, particularly in Delhi. Samples from the sites in India include only commensal bowel isolates, which confirms the existence of a large reservoir of resistance genes among healthy individuals and highlights the need for more community-based surveillance of antibiotic resistance.