Background and Objectives: Carbapenemase-producing bacteria are super bugs that make Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) difficult to treat with drug of last resort such as carbapenem and other antibiotic thus limiting the treatment options. Carbapenemase production is increasing in clinical isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, their potential to spread widely among patients necessitates molecular detection of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae implicated in Urinary Tract Infection. Methodology: A total of twelve (12) non-repeated clinical isolate of Escherichia coli (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K8, K9, K10, K11, K12) were selected based on their in vitro phenotypic resistant to carbapenem antibiotics from patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FEUTHA) Ebonyi Sate Nigeria. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were further confirmed using standard routine microbiological technique for isolation and identification of bacteria. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were further screen for carbapenemase-producing gene by PCR specific primer. Result: PCR analysis with specific primer for carbapenemase gene revealed the presence and predominant of blaKPC in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae 12(100 %) followed by blaNDM 11(91.7 %), blaIMP 7(58.3 %) and blaVIM 2(16.7) as the least carbapenemase-producing gene in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. blaKPC was predominant in Escherichia coli 7(58.3 %) followed by blaNDM 6(50.0 %) and blaIMP 5(41.7 %) while both blaOXA and blaVIM (16.7 %) were the least detected carbapenemase gene. Klebsiella pneumoniae harbor high proportion of blaNDM and blaKPC both recording 5(41.7 %) followed by blaOXA and blaIMP both recording 2(16.7 %) but blaVIM gene was not identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusion: The current findings highlight the occurrence of carbapenemase-producing gene in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae implicated in UTI. Since these genes are carried on the bacteria plasmid there is a tendency of cross-species dissemination over time. The detection of carbapenemase-producing gene call for prompt epidemiological surveillance and preventive strategies to limit the spread of these carbapenemase resistant genetic determinant and the need for antibiotic susceptibility testing of available antibiotic agent.

Background and Objectives: In recent years, the rate of carbapenemase encoding gene in P. aeruginosa has increased worldwide and has become of great concern since it’s significantly restricts the therapeutic options for patients in Tertiary health care. Therefore, there’s a need for molecular characterization of carbapenemase encoding genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Tertiary Healthcare in South Eastern Nigeria. Methodology: A total of twelve (12) Pseudomonas aeruginosa positive culture of Urine (n=5), Wound swab (n=5), Catheter tip (n=2) were collected from Alex Ekwueme Federal University Hospital Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), Ebonyi State, South eastern Nigeria.  The Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain confirmation was performed using VITEK 2 System and the bacteria were further screen for carbapemase encoding gene by PCR specific primer. Results: Molecular amplification of carbapenemase encoding genes revealed that blaNDM and blaIPM accounted 12 (100%) across all sample source. Among the various sample sources, blaKPC was found 1(8.3%) in Urine, wound swab 3(25.0%), and Catheter tip 1(8.3%), while blaVIM was found 2(16.7%), 2(16.7%) and 0(0.0%) in Urine, wound swab and Catheter tip respectively. Co-expression of blaNDM + blaIMP accounted 5(41.6 %), 5(41.6 %) and 2(16.7 %) in Urine, wound swab and Catheter tip respectively. Co-expression of blaKPC + blaNDM + blaVIM + blaIMP + blaOXA was only detected in urine 1(8.3 %). Conclusion: The current study gives an account of the presence of carbapenemase-encoding genes in P. aeruginosa. The expression of carbapenemase-encoding genes may be the mainstay of phenotypic MDR. As a result, physicians, other medical professionals, researchers, and public health policymakers must be kept up to date on the spread of carbapenemase-encoding genes. In addition, strict infection prevention and control strategies, as well as antimicrobial stewardship programs, are highly desirable in admission healthcare facilities where carbapenemase-encoding genes are spreading.

Background and Objectives: Antibiotic-resistance among microbiota found within the oral cavity is a growing concern due to extensive use of antibiotics in dental practice both for therapeutic and prophylactic reasons, but has so far received little attention in recent time. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiogram of non-oral bacteria isolates from patients attending dental clinic at Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Medical Center Enugu (FEDCODTTEN) Methodology: A total of two hundred (200) oral swab samples were collected from patients with dental disease, placed in sterilized Brain Heart Infusion broth and immediately transported to the Microbiology Laboratory Unit of Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Enugu, for bacteriological analysis using standard microbiological methods for isolation and characterization. Antibiogram studies of non-oral bacteria was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and the results were interpreted using the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) zone diameter breakpoints. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was determined for Multidrug Resistant (MDR) non-oral bacteria. Results: Phenotypic characterization of non-oral bacteria revealed an occurrence rate of S. aureus 35(17.5%) followed by E. coli 18(9.0%), Salmonella typhi 16(8.0 %) and K. oxytoca 4(2.0%) as the least predominant bacteria species. Among the oral site, lower right quadrant showed increase isolation rate of 30(15.0%) bacteria followed by lower left quadrant 23(11.5%) while upper right quadrant accounted 15(7.5 %) with the least isolation rate. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of non-oral bacteria in right quadrant and left quadrant samples from dental disease patients (P < 0.05). Non-oral bacteria isolate exhibited 57.1-100% resistant to Ertapenem, colisitn, amoxillicin, azetronam, colistin, ampicillin and clindamycin with Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Index (MARI) ranged from 0.4-0.7, indicating high level of multi-drug resistance but were susceptible to ciprofloxacin 77.8%, gentamicin 100% and imipenem 100%. Conclusion: The high antibiotic resistant and increase multi-drug resistance outcome reported among non-oral bacteria in this study calls for strengthened efforts in antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control measures in dental practices with the need to implement regular awareness programs at time interval to control and manage multi-drug resistance bacteria through judicious use of antibiotic to re-establish dominance over multi-drug resistance non-oral bacteria implicated in dental diseases.

Background and Objectives: The biofilm-forming ability of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) strains have demonstrated the involvement of MRSA biofilm in antibiotic resistance, recalcitrant and persistent infections in humans. Despite a deeper understanding of the biofilm-forming ability of MRSAstrain, it is still essential to extend the research on the identification and antibiotic resistance profile of biofilm-forming MRSA causing infection among orthopedic wound patients. Methodology: A total of three hundred and thirty (303) patient-isolate of non-repeatable Staphylococcus aureus strains were obtained during the period of 2021 until 2022 from fracture and post-surgical orthopedic wound patients with wound duration >2months at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu (NOHE). S. aureus were identified using conventional microbiological cultures Technique followed by confirmation of MRSA strain through Brilliance MRSA 2 Agar. Antibiotic Susceptibility testing (AST) of biofilm-forming MRSA was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and the results were interpreted using the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) zone diameter breakpoints. Multidrug Resistance (MDR) was determined for biofilm-forming MRSA. Result:Of the 303 isolate of S. aureus, MRSA strain accounted 86(28.4 %) and 78(25.7 %) from post-surgical wound and fracture wound respectively while biofilm forming MRSA was identified in 101(33.4%) MRSA strain consisting of high proportion 66(21.8 %) fromPost-surgical wound followed by fracture wound samples recording 35(11.6 %). Association between MRSA production and biofilm formation was considered statistically significant at P< .05. The proportion of biofilm-forming MRSA resistance to β-lactam accounted 71.4-100%, macrolide resistance recorded 65.7-92.4 %, lincosamideresistance 74.3-100 %, glycopeptide resistance proportion ranged from 62.8-100 % while low level of resistance to fluoroquinolones 19.7-42.9 % and Aminoglycoside 8.6-10.6 % was observed. Biofilm-forming MRSA isolate were MDR to one or more antibiotic antimicrobial agents in at least three categories withMDRIndex range ≥ 0.3 but majority of the isolate were 91.4% and 100% susceptible to Gentamicin and Imipenem. Conclusion: The invitro expression of biofilm formation among MRSA strain and their antibiotic resistance profile in this study makes them a potential threat and challenging pathogens with the ability to cause persistent infections in humans, especially among orthopedic wound patients. Thus the development of an antimicrobial stewardship program and regular detection of biofilm production is needed for timely intervention while judicious use of Imipenem and Gentamicin as a drug of choice for effective treatment of infection caused by biofilm-forming MRSA among orthopedic patients will avert the severity of infection. Further research of these sort should investigate the genotyping expression of a biofilm gene variant in other human diseases, different bacteria species, and orthopedic medical implant devices.

The aim of this study was to screen fish farm water and fishes reared in fish farms within Abakaliki metropolis for multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli. Exactly 30 fish samples and 30 water samples were obtained from 10 different fish farms using sterile bottles from January to June, 2018. Samples were analyzed by standard microbiology methods. Susceptibility test to antibiotics was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Double-disc synergy test was used to screen isolates for Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-production. Exactly 54 (60%) E. coli and 12 (40%) E. coli were recovered from 90 different fish parts and 30 farm water samples, respectively. Isolates exhibited resistance (54% -100%) to ceftazidime, aztreonam, cefotetan, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, piperacillin/tazobactam, ofloxacin, and ceftriaxone, but were susceptible to imipenem (80%), cefotaxime (60%), and gentamicin (57%). All the E. coli isolates form water and fish samples were negative for ESBL production. An average multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) value of 0.71 was recorded for the isolates. High prevalence of E. coli with multidrug-resistant traits in fish and water samples in our study area is a serious public health concern as this will make the treatment of infections, especially E. coli-associated foodborne diseases very difficult, thus leading to increase in health care cost, morbidity, and mortality.