Work

Epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of Vibrio cholerae in recurrent cholera outbreaks in Ethiopia: a multicenter study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background The recurrence of cholera continues to be a public health concern in Ethiopia. The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant Vibrio cholerae led to complicating case management. Thus, this study aimed to assess the epidemiological distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Vibrio cholerae in Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients in cholera treatment centers and healthcare facilities in Ethiopia from September 2023 to September 2025. Diarrheic stool and suspected water samples were collected and transported to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute to isolate and confirm V. cholerae using standard microbiology techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and E-test methods in accordance with updated CLSI guidelines. Results Among 356 stool samples and 30 water samples, 66.3% and 3.3% were culture positive for V. cholerae , respectively. All isolates were confirmed as V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa across all regions. The isolates were 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol and 99.6% to tetracycline, but all isolates were resistant to azithromycin and 98.7% to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Nearly all isolates were multidrug-resistant (99.6%). Conclusion Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa was the only serotype circulating in a long-standing cholera outbreak in Ethiopia, with a high prevalence of MDR. A high rate of azithromycin resistance highlights the urgent need to revise national cholera treatment guidelines.

Source: IJID Regions

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.101021