Characterization of Proteus Spp. And Plasmid Mediated Resistance Among Hospitalized Patients in Eku, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to analyze the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Proteus species in blood and wound samples from patients who visited Eku General Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria. A total of 60 samples, 30 from blood and 30 from wound, were collected for the study. The bacteria were identified through bacteriological and biochemical analyses, while antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Plasmid curing was carried out using a sub-inhibitory concentration of 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate on resistant organisms. The study found three isolates including Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, and P. penneri. The results showed that P. mirabilis was the most prevalent in blood (32.3%) and wound (22.6) samples, followed by P. penneri (11.3%), and P. vulgaris (9.7%) in blood sample. The study also found that the highest rate of isolation of the bacterium occurred among individuals aged between 21-35 years, followed by 12-20 years. Result of antibiotic susceptibility test showed high level of resistance in the two most commonly prescribed antibiotics cephalosporins and ampicillin. No resistance was observed in gentamycin making it the best drug for treating empirical infections. However, resistance was mostly carried on plasmids as shown by the loss of resistance after curing by the isolates. Harbouring of resistance on plasmids as huge public health implications including but not limited to spread of resistance genes, as such measures should be put in place to prevent spread.