Antimicrobial resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms to grow in the presence of an antimicrobial agent at a concentration that will normally kill or inhibit their growth. Antimicrobial resistance has become a major global threat making treatment of infections tougher especially with high cost of treatment in humans and animals. This study was done to determine the Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Index (MARI) of Gram-negative bacteria from bird droppings in two commercial poultries in Enugu. Forty (40) samples were collected from each of the poultries. Isolates were identified by standard microbiological methods. The isolates identified were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter spp, Proteus spp. and, Enterobacter spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using disc diffusion technique. The organisms were tested against pefloxacin, augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), ceftazidime, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, cephalothin, neomycin and ofloxacin. The result of the susceptibility test showed that Proteus spp had the highest resistance and MARI value of 0.5 and 1.0 respectively. The other MARI values were Escherichia coli (0.9), Klebsiella pneumonia (0.9), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.8), Citrobacter spp (0.8) and Enterobacter spp (0.7). These results suggest that bacterial organisms from poultry source can contribute significantly to the spread of multi-antibiotic resistant organisms. This could arise from the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in bird feeds in poultries.

The bacteriological quality of crockery, cutleries and hands of food sellers in a university cafeteria was determined.  A total of one hundred and forty eight (148) samples were collected over a one month period and isolates were identified using morphological appearance on both selective and differential media and a series of biochemical test. The biochemical tests carried out were coagulase, indole, motility, catalase and oxidase. Antibiogram study was also carried out. The organisms identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. The result of the sensitivity test showed 75% resistance to the conventional antibiotics used; namely, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, gentamycin, ampicillin and erythromycin. The total bacterial counts (cfu/ml) of the samples were 2.6× 107cfu/ml for hand swab, 8.0 × 105 cfu/ml for plates, 1.08 × 106cfu/ml for knives, 9.6 × 105cfu/ml for pots, 9.2 × 105cfu/ml for spoons and 1.62 × 106cfu/ml for tables. The results suggest high levels of microbial contaminants and calls for improved personal and environmental hygiene.

Acute lung infection induced by Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBL) producing isolates was determined by measuring inflammatory mediators; malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO)and nitric oxide (NO). The mice were randomly divided into three groups of 20 animals each. All mice were given 10 4 c.f.u. ml -1 of the test organism intranasally in a volume of 50 µl while holding the mouse in an upright position without any anaesthesia. Group A received an intraperitoneal injection of an antibiotic, imipenem at a dose of 20 mg ml -1 / 25 g body weight which was administered 48 h post infection, Group B received only normal saline orally while group C, control-mice did not receive any treatment. The animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation; lungs were removed aseptically and examined for various inflammatory mediators. The MDA, NO and MPO estimations in the lung homogenates in each group was measured and compared. Group treated with imipenem recorded lower absorbance values when compared with group treated with normal saline. The different parameters were statistically significant since the P-values were less than 0.05.