Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Door Handles of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Augustine Brian Odigie

doi:10.11648/j.jher.20180401.15

Abstract

In recent times, surfaces of hospital environment, constantly exposed to activities of patients and health-care workers, have been identified as potential routes for horizontal dissemination of drug resistant microorganisms of public health significance. This study was conducted to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile of bacteria isolated from samples collected from door handles of various units in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Out of the 66 door handles sampled and analysed bacteriologically, 68 predominant bacteria distributed among five (5) species of Escherichia coli (30.9%), Staphylococcusaureus (26.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.6%), Streptococcus pneumonia (13.2%) and Bacillus subtilis (11.8%) were isolated. Kirby Bauer techniques of disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility test on the isolates using 9 commercial antibiotics according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) procedure showed resistance of P. aeruginosa to five (5) drugs (Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Streptomycin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin and Nalidixic acid), E. coli to five (5) drugs (Ofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Ampicillin, Cephalexin and Nalidixic acid), S. pneumoniaeto two drugs (Ampicilin and Nalidixic acid) and S aureus to only Nalidixic acid. Agarose gel electrophoresis carried out on their plasmid DNA revealed detectable fragments in P. aeruginosa and E. coli. After plasmid curing, the isolates became sensitive to Streptomycin, Cephalexin,Ofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Ampicillin and Ciprofloxacin. Findings from this study suggest the presence of plasmid mediated multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa and E. coli on surfaces of hospital door handles. Hence, public education on proper personal hygiene and disinfection techniques are recommended in hospitals.

Highlights

A hospital is a designated health care institution for diagnosis and treatment of patients
The presence of different species of Bacillus spp. has been reported in outdoor and indoor air samples collected from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria
The significant levels of E. coli and S. aureus in this study suggest the need for intensification of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene within hospital environments

Summary

Introduction

A hospital is a designated health care institution for diagnosis and treatment of patients. A teaching hospital combines health care assistance to patients with teaching of medical students and nurses. Hospital environment and surfaces have been known to be reservoirs of a number of pathogens [1] [2]. The routes of hospital acquired infections were found to be mainly by direct handto-hand contact between health care workers and patients as well as indirect contact from contaminated surfaces used by others workers or patients [3] [4]. Some multi-drug resistant pathogens have been isolated from inanimate surfaces that were constantly exposed to patients and health care workers.

Methods

Results

Conclusion