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.

Aims: To determine the infection rate and antibiogram of Proteus spp among hospitalised patients suffering from wound infection in Maiduguri.  Methodology: A total of 320 wound swab samples were collected from August 2016 to June 2017, and processed via microscopy, culture and further confirmed by biochemical tests. Kirby bauer disc diffusion test was used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Proteus spp isolated. Results: Twenty eight (28) samples yielded Proteus spp, giving a prevalence rate of 8.75%. Male patients were more affected (60.71%) compared to females (39.29%). Difference in sex in relation to rate of infection was statistically not significant (X2 =3.963, p<.01). Patients within the age group of 21-30 years (28.57%) recorded the highest bacterial yield while those of 61-70 years and >70 years (3.57% respectively) recorded the least. Patients suffering from Wound Sepsis and Burns recorded the most significant infection rate (28.57% respectively). Proteus mirabilis (53.57%) was the most isolated Proteus specie while Proteus penneri (7.14%) was the least. Proteus spp isolates demonstrated a marked resistance against Augmentin (89.29%) and Nalidixic Acid (85.71%) but high sensitivity was observed towards Ciprofloxacin (85.71%) and Streptomycin (78.57%). Conclusion: We establish that Proteus spp actually contribute to the pathology of wounds infection among hospitalised patients, and the Proteus specie most implicated in the aetiology of wound infection is Proteus mirabilis. Ciprofloxacin and Streptomycin are the drugs of choice for the treatment of patients with Proteus spp wound infection in the study area, and the use of Nalidixic acid and Augmentin is highly discouraged due to high resistance.

β-Lactam antibiotics are a cornerstone in the treatment of bacterial infections on account of its high therapeutic index and selective toxicity-they act by inhibiting the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan, a key component in bacterial cell wall. Ninety (90) clinical specimens obtained from the microbiology unit Specialist Hospital Bauchi were screened for S. aureus, positive isolates were examined for β-Lactamase expression by using two Penicillin G concentrations (5000 IU/ml and 25,000 IU/ml) in acidometric agar technique with phenol red as indicator, and the susceptibility pattern of the isolates to β-Lactam antibiotics was also determined. S. aureus prevalence of 31% (28/90) was obtained, of which 96% (27/28) of strains were β-Lactamase positive in the standard test, while 63% (17/27) were able to hydrolyze penicillin G concentration of 25,000 IU/ml (5X the concentration in the standard test), and a strain was found to be β-Lactamase negative. The resistance to five β-Lactams, ampicillin, cephalexin, amoxicillin, cloxacillin and flucloxaillin, were 100%, 96%, 89%, 74% and 56% respectively. When ampicillin and amoxicillin were conjugated to β-Lactamase inhibitors sulbactam and clavulanic acid respectively the resistance to ampicillin decreased to 21% and to amoxicillin to 15%. The antibiotic susceptibility profile revealed β-Lactamase elaboration to be the major mechanism of resistance to the β-Lactams. β-Lactam utilization as therapeutic option would thus require the search for sensitive irreversible β-Lactamase inhibitors for the β-Lactamase enzymes or agents to block the release of β-Lactamase by strains.