The major innate barrier to the establishment of infections in internal tissues is the skin, the disruption of which leads to wound formation. Such wounds can be contaminated by bacterial pathogens thereby hampering the healing process and its management becomes resource demanding. Here, we assess the diversity of potential bacterial pathogens in the infection of different types of wounds among hospitalized patients. Three hundred and twenty wound swab samples were collected and processed via microscopy, and cultured on Blood, MacConkey and Chocolate Agar. Isolates were further confirmed using biochemical tests and Kirby Bauer disc diffusion test was used to determine their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. 87.5% of samples collected yielded bacterial growth comprising of single bacterial isolates (52.17%) and polymicrobial/mixed growth (47.82%). Staphylococcus aureus (32.61%) was the most prevalent bacterial specie identified. Gram-negative bacteria (62.33%) were the most pervasive group, chief among which were E. coli (23.64%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.13%). Rate of infection was highest among Wound sepsis and Burns wound where Enterobacter spp. and Streptococcus spp. were the most prevalent respectively. Differences in wound type in relation to rate of infection with Gram-negative bacteria was statistically significant (f = 5.9592; df = 29; p-value = 0.001645; p < 0.01; Mean ± SD = 7.633 ± 6.3706). Resistivity profile of isolates has shown that the most significant resistance rate was against Amoxicillin and Ampicillin, among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria identified respectively. This suggests that wounds can be infected by potential bacterial pathogens which can exacerbate the progression of the wound and complicate the healing process.

Background: Over 50% of cases of otitis media are caused by bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common aetiologic agent implicated in the pathology of the disease. Objectives: This study is designed to examine the influence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in otitis media disease, and further look at the susceptibility pattern of the organism to commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs. Methods: Eighty two (82) swab samples were randomly collected from otitis media patients attending the ENT clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and cultured for bacterial recovery. Further biochemical tests were conducted. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed and susceptibility pattern recorded. Results: Nineteen (19) samples yielded growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which gives a recovery rate of 23.2%. The rate was higher among males (12.2%) than females (11.0%). The rate of isolation was highest among patients of the age category of 0-14yrs (11.0%) and least among those of >44yrs (2.0%). Isolates were highly sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin and Peflacin but highly resistant to Nalidixic acid and Ampicillin. Conclusions: The infection is highest among children whose immune competence is still developing and as such, it is recommended that treatment should be based on results obtained from in-vitro susceptibility test, and that combination therapy should be considered to forestall chances of emergence of drug resistance.

Infections caused by biofilm forming bacteria is of major public health concern because of its association with multi-resistance to antimicrobial drugs and host defenses, leading to chronic and recurrent infections. Here, using Congo red agar method, Kirby-bauer disk diffusion technique and the consensus criteria of the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), we determined the acquired resistance profile of biofilm producing phenotypes of clinically derived bacteria, classified as Multidrug resistant (MDR), extensively drug resistant (XDR) and Pandrug resistant (PDR). Fifty (50) de-identified bacterial isolates, comprising of five different species (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were sampled for the study. 64.0% of these isolates were observed to produce biofilms. Isolates recovered from urine samples (50.0%) were the most significant biofilm producers, chief among which was Staphylococcus aureus (15.6%) (X2=0.52; p<.05; P=0.9714). 78.0% of the biofilm producing phenotypes were atleast multidrug resistant (31.4% MDR; 31.4% XDR; 15.7% PDR) (f= 0.40678; df=3; p<.05; P=0.7502). Extreme forms of acquired resistance (XDR and PDR) was more pronounced among biofilm producing strains than the non-biofilm producing strains, and was statistically significant (f=5.0; p=.026336; df=14; p<.05). All Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were atleast multidrug resistant, with the biofilm producing strains of the latter being completely resistant to Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin. As such, it can be deduced that resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs is more pronounced among biofilm producing phenotypes of clinically derived bacterial isolates.

Aims: This study was carried out to analyze the plasmid profile of multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated among catheterized patients attending the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Place of Study: Department of Medical Microbiology (Laboratory Section), University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Department of Biological Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria. Methodology: 244 samples (catheter tip, urethral swab, urine) were collected from catheterised patients and investigated via microscopy and culture on Blood agar and MacConkey agar. Suspect Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were further confirmed using biochemical tests. Kirby bauer disc diffusion test was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Isolates confirmed to be multidrug resistant (MDR) were subjected to plasmid profile analysis using agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: 21 yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa which gives a recovery rate of 8.6%. A significant proportion was isolated from catheter tip samples collected from male patients (33.33%). The association between sex of patient and sample type in the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was statistically significant (X2 = 10.76, df = 2, P <.01). Isolates were most-sensitive/least-resistant to Ofloxacin and Ampiclox, and least-sensitive/most-resistant to Penicillin. All isolates identified were multi-drug resistant (MDR) with an average resistance rate of 3.28 antimicrobials per isolate. Plasmid analysis revealed that 57.14% of isolates possessed similar plasmid with a DNA fragment size of 300bp and a molecular weight of 31 ng/10 µl. Conclusion: We establish a very high rate of multidrug resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. Plasmid profile analysis of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa observed revealed a high plasmid prevalence rate and since most isolates cannot express the resistance marker after plasmid curing, we suggest that this is indicative of the plasmidial origin of such a marker.

Aims:We analysed the prevalence of plasmid mediated multidrug resistance among Proteus spp isolated from wound infection patients attending healthcare centers in Maiduguri. Methodology: 320 wound swab samples were collected from August 2016 to June 2017, and investigated via microscopy, cultured on Blood agar and MacConkey agar. Suspected Proteus spp isolates were further confirmed using biochemical tests. Kirby bauer disc diffusion test was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Isolates confirmed to be multidrug resistant (MDR) were subjected to gel electrophoresis for the determination of plasmid profile. Results: Twenty eight (28) samples yielded Proteus spp, giving a prevalence rate of 8.75%. Original Research Article2 =7.342, p>0.01). Plasmid profile analysis revealed that 72.22% of the MDR isolates harbour plasmids with a DNA fragment size of 100 bp and a molecular weight of 31ng/10µl. An average of 7.22% of MDR isolates were cured of their plasmids while an average of 56.67% of MDR isolates resisted curing. Conclusion: Here, we report a high prevalence of multidrug resistance and a high rate of plasmid carrying strains of Proteus spp in wounds of hospitalised patients. We suggest that there is a role played by plasmid in the mediation of multidrug resistance among the MDR Proteus spp isolated, where the majority of the MDR isolates observed carry plasmids.