Drug resistance patterns of Gram-negative bacteria isolated from food and non-sterile medicines in hospital environments

Abstract

Contamination of food and non-sterile medicaments was investigated in seven hospitals. Strains of Gram-negative bacilli isolated were identified and tested for resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and metallic salts. Four per cent of 530 samples of medicaments were contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 6 per cent with other Gram-negative bacilli. Eighty-two per cent of 38 food samples were contaminated with Ps. aeruginosa and 63 per cent with other Gram-negative bacilli. Gram-negative bacilli showed a high degree of resistance to antibiotics and inorganic salts. Pyocine, serotyping, biotyping, antibiograms and metal resistograms suggested endemicity of Ps. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacilli in the hospitals.