Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Door Handles of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

In recent times, surfaces of hospital environment, constantly exposed to activities of patients and health-care workers, have been identified as potential routes for horizontal dissemination of drug resistant microorganisms of public health significance. This study was conducted to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile of bacteria isolated from samples collected from door handles of various units in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Out of the 66 door handles sampled and analysed bacteriologically, 68 predominant bacteria distributed among five (5) species of Escherichia coli (30.9%), Staphylococcusaureus (26.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.6%), Streptococcus pneumonia (13.2%) and Bacillus subtilis (11.8%) were isolated. Kirby Bauer techniques of disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility test on the isolates using 9 commercial antibiotics according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) procedure showed resistance of P. aeruginosa to five (5) drugs (Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Streptomycin, Ampicillin, Cephalexin and Nalidixic acid), E. coli to five (5) drugs (Ofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Ampicillin, Cephalexin and Nalidixic acid), S. pneumoniaeto two drugs (Ampicilin and Nalidixic acid) and S aureus to only Nalidixic acid. Agarose gel electrophoresis carried out on their plasmid DNA revealed detectable fragments in P. aeruginosa and E. coli. After plasmid curing, the isolates became sensitive to Streptomycin, Cephalexin,Ofloxacin, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Ampicillin and Ciprofloxacin. Findings from this study suggest the presence of plasmid mediated multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa and E. coli on surfaces of hospital door handles. Hence, public education on proper personal hygiene and disinfection techniques are recommended in hospitals.

Occurrence and prevalence of bacteria on door handles at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and the multidrug resistance implications

“…This is an indication of the low occurrence of the resistant form despite its high prevalence as compared with the pre-Covid-19 study by Odigie et al . [9], where Staphylococcus species ( S. pneumonia and S. aureus ) were multidrug-resistant, with S.…”

“…The findings of this study are in contrast to the reports of a similar study by Odigie et al . [9], where most of the bacterial isolates were multidrug-resistant. The discrepancies between these findings and our study might be because their study was carried out pre-pandemic, where hospital healthcare practices were probably less strict.…”

Contaminated Condition of Commercial Blenders and their Contact Surface in the Local Market in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria

“…The high resistance rate observed among the Gram negative organism support earlier assertion that majority of multidrug resistant isolates in clinical and environmental samples. Bakkali et al, [25], Odigie et al, [26] Wang et al, [27] Gram negative bacteria possessed outer membrane in addition to cell wall. This membrane prevents many substances from entering into the cell.…”

“…This membrane prevents many substances from entering into the cell. Brooks et al, [28], Kapoor et al, [29] Multi-drugs resistant strains pose serious health effects with attendant treatment failure, prolong hospital stay and increase cost of treatment Odigie et al, [26].…”