Isolation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles Of Salmonella Species From Patients Attending Hospitals and Diagnostic Laboratories in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 186 blood and urine samples were aseptically collected from patients attending two major hospitals and diagnostic Laboratories in Maiduguri metropolis, Nigeria between October, 2011 and January, 2012. One mililitre each of blood was collected from brachial vein with the aid of a sterile syringe, and early morning midstream voided urine was dispensed into a sterile sample bottle containing 9ml of peptone water and incubated at 370C for 24-48 hours. Isolation of Salmonella was carried out by using Deoxycholate agar (DCA) and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) plates. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by disc diffusion technique using Mueller Hinton agar in accordance with standard technique. Seven, 7 (3.8%) were positive for Salmonella. The study revealed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of Salmonella bacteremia in males with 3 (3.8%) and females 4 (3.8%). All the isolates were susceptible to compound Sulphonamides and resistance to antibiotics was in varying proportions with 43.0% developing resistance to each of Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin and Tetracycline, 71.4% to Chloramphenicol, 28.6% to Nalidixic acid and Gentamycin and 14.3% to Sulphamethoxazole/Trimethoprim. None of the isolates was sensitive to Ampicillin and Cefotaxim. Salmonella bacteremia is more prevalent among aged people (≥50years), followed by children below 20years and least among young adult of between 20 to 50years. There was overall susceptibility to compound Sulphonamides and resistances to antibiotics vary with the antimicrobials used. None of the isolates was sensitive to Ampicillin and Cefotaxim. It is recommended that a policy should be instituted to monitor and control the prescription drugs in health institutions and prohibition of sale of antimicrobials without medical prescription.