Frequency and antimicrobial resistance of aerobic bacteria isolated from surgical sites in humans and animals in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the frequency of occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of aerobic bacteria isolated from surgical sites in human and animal patients in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria. Wound swabs from 132 patients (96 humans and 36 animals) were cultured for bacterial isolation. Antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates was evaluated by the agar disc diffusion method. A total of 134 bacterial isolates were obtained from 114 samples that yielded growth. Staphylococcus aureus (26.1%) was the most prevalent agent isolated from humans, followed by E. coli (17.4%), Proteus spp (17.4%), Enterococcus spp (13.0%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus [CNS] (10.9%). In animals, the most common agents isolated were E. coli (19.0%) and Proteus spp (19.0%), followed by S. aureus (14.3%), Enterococcus spp (14.3%) and CNS (9.5%). A high proportion of Gram-negative isolates were resistant to cephalexin (80%), cotrimoxazole (80%), ampicillin (73.3%), gentamicin (70%) and nalidixic acid (70%) while majority of the Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to streptomycin (40.5%) and erythromycin (40.5%). Isolates demonstrated low resistance rate to ciprofloxacin. This study has provided information that may be needed in designing empirical treatment regimens for post-operative infections in Nsukka area.


Key Words: Bacteria, isolation, surgical site, antimicrobial, resistance.


(Nigerian Veterinary Journal: 2003 24(1): 1-9)