Diarrheal illness has been studied extensively among children under five years, however little information is known among population over five years. This study determined the spectrum and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial pathogens causing diarrhea in above five-year-old patients in a health facility along Lake Victoria region. In a cross-sectional study, 400 patients aged five years and above with diarrhea visiting Port Victoria health facility along Lake Victoria region were recruited in this study from 2013 to 2016. Stool samples were collected and cultured following standard microbiological procedures. Bacterial agents were isolated, identified and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test. A total of 317 organisms (283 bacteria, 31 parasites and 3 others) were identified from 303 (76%) patients. Most frequently isolated pathogens being Non O1 Vibrio cholera 98(30.9%), Salmonella species 97(30.6%), Shigella species 47(14.8.0%) and Aeromonas species 38(12.0%). Non O1 Vibrio cholerae isolates were less sensitive to tetracycline, ampicillin and nalidixic acid. Salmonella species were less sensitive to ampicillin but sensitive to nalidixic acid. Shigella species isolates were more sensitive to chloramphenicol, cipplofloxin and nalidixic acid. Similar trend was observed for Aeromonas species isolates. The susceptibilities expressed were fairly good. However, some of the resistances shown pose a threat to public health, especially in unexposed populations. With the observed trends in this study, bacterial species have responded differently to antibiotics. It may be beneficial for clinicians to consider antibiotic susceptibility testing prior to management of patients to slow down resistance development.
Key words: Diarrheal illness, Bacterial pathogens, Antibiotic susceptibility, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella