Detection of Plasmid-mediated Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase Genes (bla CTX-M) in Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from the Oral Cavity of Patients in a Dental Clinic in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Diakité Sally Otolorin Sarah
Training and Research Unit of Odonto-Stomatology, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Côte d’Ivoire.
Yapi Adompo Jaurès Cedric *
Department of Bacteriology Virology, Institut Pasteur de Côte d'Ivoire, Côte d'Ivoire.
Amon Aby Christiane
Molecular Biology Platform, Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Coulibaly N’golo David
Molecular Biology Platform, Institut Pasteur of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: The oral cavity represents one of the most complex and densely colonized environments of the human body, harboring a diverse microbiota including bacterial and fungal communities. Antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a pressing global health concern, with particularly severe implications for low-resource settings.
Aims: This study aimed to assess the antibiotic resistance profiles of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated from the oral cavity.
Methodology: samples were collected from patients presenting with dental disorders for the isolation and characterisation of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae from the oral cavity. Plasmid DNA was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method, and conventional PCR was employed to detect the presence of plasmid-borne resistance genes bla CTX-M-2, bla CTX-M-8, and bla CTX-M-9.
Results: Four Enterobacteriaceae strains were successfully isolated and characterized, corresponding to an isolation rate of 5.40% (4/74). Among these, 60% harbored the bla CTX-M-2 and bla CTX-M-8 resistance genes. The bla CTX-M-9 gene was not detected in any of the isolates.
Conclusion: Although uncommon in the oral cavity, the emergence of Enterobacteriaceae in this niche may represent a potential public health concern. The presence of ESBL-producing strains could contribute to therapeutic failures or limited treatment options, particularly if antibiotic prescribing guidelines are not adequately followed by healthcare professionals.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, oral cavity, resistance genes