Antimicrobial Resistance of some Gram-negative Bacilli Isolated from various sources in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: To isolate and detect the antimicrobial resistance of some Gram-negative Bacilli Isolated from various sources in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Study Design:  Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Trans-Amadi and Rumuodomaya Slaughters and Bob-D Ventures Poultry Farms, all in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between July and December, 2019. Methodology: This study was conducted at Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas of Rivers State, Nigeria from 2019-2020. Hospital wastewater was taken from different sections at the two University Teaching Hospitals- University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State University Teaching Hospitals. Abattoir effluent water samples were taken at different sites from Trans-Amadi and Rumuodumaya Abattoirs. Chicken cloaca samples as well as Hand swab samples of Butchers were collected at the two Abattoirs. All samples were processed following standard procedures and identified organisms were assessed for susceptibilities to different antibiotics following Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and Microbroth dilution methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Percentages and Chi square were used to summarize the data and p values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Out of a total of 482 samples consisting of Hospital wastewater (84), Chicken cloaca swab (76), Abattoir Effluent water (182), Poultry Dung (96) and Butchers’ Hand Swab (44) investigated for possible recovery of some Gram-Negative organisms, 224 target bacterial isolates were identified. Escherichia coli showed highest percentage occurrence 124 (25.7%), while Klebsiella pneumoniae had 80 (16.5%) and the least rate of occurrence was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 20 (4.1%). A total of 38 bacteria were isolated from the wastewater samples of the two hospitals; 44 were isolated from the Chicken cloaca samples; 80 from Abattoir Effluent Water samples; 50 from Poultry dung and 12 from Butchers’ hand swabs. Organisms were most susceptible to Imipenem (97%) and most resistance to Nalidixic acid (92%). Conclusion: Multiple drug resistance to the commonly used antibiotics is high in the study area. The contamination of wastewater by antibiotics or other pollutants lead to the rise of resistance due to selection pressure. The presence of antibiotic resistance organisms in these wastewaters should not be overlooked. Proper wastewater treatment and improved sanitary measures are advocated.