Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern and Molecular Identification of Acinetobacter baumannii in Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria
Ikechukwu Herbert Egwu *
Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, P.M.B. 53, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Ifeanyichukwu Romanus Iroha
Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, P.M.B. 53, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Modesta Mmaduabuchi Egwu-Ikechukwu
Department of Microbiology, Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Ikemesit Udeme Peter
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Technology and Engineering, Federal College of Dental Technology & Therapy, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, Nigeria.
Charity Chinyere Nnabugwu
Department of Microbiology, Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Chioma Margaret Ali
Department of Microbiology, Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Elom Emeka Elom
Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, P.M.B. 53, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Lillian Ngozika Ogene
Department of Applied Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, P.M.B. 53, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Christiana Inuaesiet Edemekong
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, Federal College of Dental Technology & Therapy, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, Nigeria.
Ismaila Danjuma Mohammed
Department of Dental Nursing, Faculty of Dental Health Federal College of Dental Technology & Therapy, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii, a notorious opportunistic pathogen known to seriously affect debilitated individuals especially intensive care unit (ICU) patients and others with underlying illness, have consistently jeopardized many antibiotics. This study was therefore aimed to ascertain the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and molecularly identify A. baumannii pathogens in Alex Ekwueme-Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
Methodology: A total of 385 clinical samples were collected aseptically from debilitated patients and analyzed following standard microbiological procedures. Acinetobacter species was confirmed by Gram staining reaction and biochemical tests. All bacterial isolates were phenotypically screened for multidrug resistance using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion technique and results interpreted as per CLSI criteria. A. baumannii isolates were finally confirmed using 16S rRNA sequencing.
Results: A total of 23(6%) A. baumannii isolates were recovered from 385 clinical samples collected from 87 patients comprising 48 males and 39 females admitted in various hospital wards of AE-FETHA. The age of the patients varied from 20–79 years. The commonest sites for isolation of A. baumannii pathogen were catheter urine (8/8%) and wound sores (7/8%). The highest percentage resistance was observed with cefuroxime (96%), tetracycline (96%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (96 %), and ofloxacin (91%) while meropenem (91%) and imipenem (78%) were the most effective antibiotics against A. baumannii. The isolated A. baumannii was re-confirmed genotypically by 16S rRNA gene amplification. Variations were observed in the gene sequence of all the isolated A. baumannii.
Conclusion: Catheter urine, wound sores, and respiratory fluids were the more easily colonized samples. Also, high frequency of multidrug resistance observed in this study further established A. baumannii as a notorious opportunistic pathogen.
Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, multidrug resistance, 16S rRNA sequencing