Susceptibility Profile of Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Recommended Antipseudomonal Antibiotics in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been shown to demonstrate high resistance to various classes of antibiotics because of its unique nature.The increasing rate of resistance development among Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, which also vary with geographical locations, has led to the recommendation of some classes of antibiotics for the treatment of pseudomonal infections. This study was therefore designed to determine the susceptibility of clinical isolates of P.aeruginosa in this environment to the various recommended classes of antibiotics. Materials and Methods: P. aeruginosa strains were isolated and identified from various clinical specimens brought to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, between April and December 2009. These were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the various classes of recommended antipseudomonal antibiotics. Results: The strains of P. aeruginosa tested demonstrated high susceptibility rates to most of the recommended antipseudomonal antibiotics with the exception of gentamycin and ceftriaxone. Their susceptibility rates to the antibiotics were as follows: 75.9% to ciprofloxacin, 71.4% to pefloxacin and 60.9% to ofloxacin. Susceptibility rates to cefepime, meropenem, piperacillin, amikacin, ceftriaxone and gentamycin were 85.1%, 80.1%, 83.9%, 65.5%, 36.8% and 6.9% respectively. Conclusions: Development of antibiotic resistance has been attributed to irrational and inappropriate use of antibiotics. Therefore, in order to sustain the high susceptibility demonstrated by P.aeruginosa to the tested antibiotics in this study, public health policy on appropriate prescribing and use of antibiotics must be instituted and effected in this environment.