ANTIBACTERIAL SURVEILLANCE: AN APPROACH TO MITIGATING MULTI-DRUG RESISTANCE MENACE AMONG CLINICAL UROPATHOGENS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common human infections with the distribution of etiological agents and antibiotic resistance patterns varying from region to region and from time to time. The aims of this study were to ascertain the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of common Gram-negative uropathogens among patients attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty clean-catch midstream urine specimens were obtained and cultured within 2 hours of collection for the detection of Gram-negative uropathogens. The isolated organisms were identified by standard microbiological methods. Of the total 150 urine specimens analyzed, 82 (54.67%) specimens were positive for Gram-negative uropathogen with significant bacteriuria of which 34 (41.46%) were males and 48 (58.54%) were females. Klebsiella spp. 38 (46.34%) and Escherichia coli 32 (39.02%) were the most frequently isolated Gram-negative uropathogens, followed by Proteus mirabilis 10 (12.20%) while the least occurring uropathogen was observed to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (2.44%). All the isolated uropathogens were observed to be highly resistant to the commonly prescribed antibiotics. Emerging resistance to carbapenems was also observed. Nevertheless, carbapenems showed highest susceptibility compared to other tested antibiotics. Conclusively, high levels of resistance of uropathogens to antibiotics exist in our setting. This therefore calls for continuous antibiotic surveillance and improved antibiotic stewardship.