Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Patients Attending Health Care Facilities, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Aim: To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from wounds of patients and to determine the age group commonly infected with the bacteria.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among patients suspected of having wound infection.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between May, 2015 and June, 2016 at the Microbiology Laboratory of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A total of 165 wound swabs were analysed for the presence of P. aeruginosa. Standard microbiology laboratory tests were used to isolate and identify the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was carried out using the disc diffusion method.

Results: A total of 56 (33.94%) P. aeruginosa isolates were identified. The age group, 31 – 40 years had the highest number 28 (50.00%) of P. aeruginosa infection. Within this age group, females 15 (51.72%) were slightly more infected than males 13 (48.15%). In the tertiary hospital (MMH), the highest sensitivity was observed for ofloxacin (32 strains, 78.05% of P. aeruginosa isolates) followed by ciprofloxacin (29 strains, 70.73 % of P. aeruginosa isolates) and ceftazidime (26 strains, 63.41% of P. aeruginosa isolates). The number of isolates resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefixime and cefuroxime were 34 strains (82.93% of P. aeruginosa isolates), 26 strains (63.41% of P. aeruginosa isolates) and 23 strains (56.10% of P. aeruginosa isolates) respectively. The number of P. aeruginosa isolates from the teaching hospital (FETHA) sensitive to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were 9 strains (60.00% of P. aeruginosa isolates) and 8 strains (53.33% of P. aeruginosa isolates) respectively. In FETHA, the isolates showed their highest resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate (14 strains, 93.33% of P. aeruginosa isolates) followed by cefixime (12 strains, 80.00% of P. aeruginosa isolates). A total of 32 strains (57.14% of P. aeruginosa isolates) were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR). Regular monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibility profile is essential to guide the physicians in drug prescription against P. aeruginosa strains.