Antibiogram and Plasmid Profile of Bacterial Isolates from Intensive Care Units in a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Umuahia

This study evaluated the bacterial contamination and the antibiogram of bacterial isolates in Intensive Care Units in Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

Sterile swab sticks moistened with sterile water were used to swab the surfaces of the fomites, hands and anterior nares of healthcare workers and the samples were sent to the laboratory for analysis. Plasmid preparations was done with a QIAprep Spin Plasmid Kit. Antibiotic discs of prior resistance were aseptically introduced into the Muller Hinton agar plates, ensuring that the discs made appropriate contact with the surface of the agar. These were incubated for 24 hrs at 37ºC after which plates were examined for cured colonies.

The common bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, 39(43.2%), Escherichia coli, 16(17.9%), Pseudomonas spp, 10(11.2%), Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, 7(7.8%). Antibiotic sensitivity of the bacterial isolates was carried out using the disc diffusion method. Gram-negative bacterial isolates were more sensitive to Ofloxacin, Peflacine, Ciprofloxacin, and Streptomycin. Gram-positive bacterial isolates were more sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Rifampicin, Erythromycin, and Levofloxacin. However, Enterobacter spp. and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci were resistant to the drugs. The biofilm formation potential was observed in 41(46.0%) bacterial isolates.  Extended Spectrum Lactamase (ESBL) producers among E. coli isolates was 56.2%, while Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas spp. isolates were 33.3% and 40%, respectively, Plasmid profile was carried out on some of the bacterial isolates. Six E. coli isolates had plasmid size between 50-400 base pair; five S. aureus isolates had plasmid size between 35-150 base pair, two Proteus spp. and two Pseudomonas spp. isolates had no plasmid.  

This study revealed the resistance of bacterial isolates after currying.