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Background: Nosocomial bacteria are bacteria that cause diseases acquired from the hospital environments. Aim: This study looked into profile of bacterial pathogens associated with nosocomial infections in hospitals within Makurdi metropolis. Result: A total of 71 bacterial pathogens were encountered from 240 samples analysed from three hospitals in Makurdi metropolis. Of the 71 isolates, 46(64.8%) were Gram positive and 25(35.2%) were Gram negative. The Gram positive constituting S. aureus (50.70%) and staphylococcus spp (14.08%) while the Gram negative constituting E. coli (15.50%), klebsiella spp (7.04%) and P. aeruginosa (12.68%). Out of 21(29.58%) isolates cultured from hand swabs, the bacterial pathogens from hand swab at F M C was the highest 12(57.14%) followed by C H M 5(23.81%) while B M M C has the least profile of 4(19.05%). With regards to hospital air, the highest profile of nosocomial bacteria was also from F M C 8(61.54%), followed by B M M C 4(30.77%) while C H M had just only one isolate 1(7.69%). Of 21(29.58%) isolates from B M M C; 10(47.62%) S. aureus, 4(19.05%) Staphylococcus spp, 2(9.52%) P. aeruginosa and 5(23.81%) Escherichia coli were obtained. In C H M, out of 18(25.35%) bacterial pathogens evolved constituting 12(66.67%) S. aureus, 2(11.11%) Staphylococcus spp, 1(5.56%) P. aeruginosa and 3(16.67%) E. coli. Whereas, the profile of 32(45.07) isolates in Federal Medical Centre Makurdi constituting 14(43.75%) S. aureus, 4(12.50%) Staphylococcus spp, 6(18.75%) P. aeruginosa, 3(9.38%) E. coli and 5(15.63%) Klebsiella spp were obtained. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern to Staphylococcus spp reveals that the highest level of sensitivity were demonstrated by Cloxacillin and Ofloxacin with 50%, followed by Augumentin and Cefuroxime with 40%, Gentamicin (30%), Erythromycin (20%) and least sensitivity with Ceftriazone (10%) while Ceftazidime has the highest resistance recorded 0% sensitivity. E. coli has the highest sensitivity on Ceftazidime having 81.8% and Gentamicin 63.6%, Ofloxacin also displayed a high level of sensitivity to isolates tested with 63.6% sensitive, follow by Cefuroxime (45.5%). Conclusion: This study showed that nosocomial bacterial pathogens particularly, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus spp and enteric bacteria, E. coli and Klebsiella spp are the predominant pathogens associated with infections acquired in hospital environment.So, information on resistance patterns of isolates encountered in this study will assist the clinicians in making improvement in management of nosocomial infections.

Hospital environment needs more attention because of the influx of people into the environment for medical checkup and other services. This study unveils the incidence of bacteria isolated from air and selected surfaces in three referral hospitals (City hospital, Federal Medical Centre, Wadata and Saint Theresa Hospital) in Makurdi Middle Belt Nigeria. Fifty (50) bacteria were isolated; hospital air (26%), bed rails (16%), door knobs (2%), floor (4%), nurse table top (10%), operation table (4%), sink (18%), stretchers (2%) and toilet seat (12%). In City Hospital, the bacteria isolated include Escherichia coli (6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2%), Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus spp (2%), from Federal Medical Centre, bacteria isolated were Klebsiella spp (10%), Staphylococcus aureus (4%), Staphylococcus spp (8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%) and E. coli (6%). In STH, bacteria isolated include E. coli (8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4%), Staphylococcus spp (8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (14%). The invitro antibiotics susceptibility pattern shows that Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed highest resistant to the antibiotics while Klebsiella spp was susceptible to majority of the antibiotics but resistant to cloxacillin and erythromycin. The study reveals Klebsiella spp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus and other Staphylococcus spp as bacteria commonly associated with hospital environment. This study affirms the presence of resistant bacteria strains and highlighted world-wide problem of hospital borne infections as it concerns the study area and population. This report will create awareness and be a good guide to health care workers, patients and the public about the likeliness of contracting nosocomial infection and how to treat such infection. Major recommendations offered suggests that, healthcare workers should be more careful in carrying out their duty to avoid chance of being infected in the course of their work. Also, the in-vitro antibiotics susceptibility testing on the bacterial pathogens in the study will assist the clinicians in making improvement on the management of nosocomial infections.