PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM HIGH VAGINAL SWAB AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERNS TO SOME SELECTED ANTIBIOTICS AT ALIHAME, AGBOR.

Aerobic vaginitis occurs due to Inflammatory dysbiosis, and it depletes beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus spp that help in maintaining vaginal health by allowing opportunistic pathogens to invade and proliferate. These bacteria are aerobes that cause Aerobic vaginitis (AV). A total of 50 vagina samples were collected randomly from reproductive age women ranging from 18- 45years at Alihame, Agbor, for laboratory analysis. The samples were inoculated on agar like blood agar medium, mannitol salt agar medium and nutrient agar medium using four quadrant streaking and incubated under aerobic condition for 24-48 hours at 35-37 °C. Preliminary identification was performed based on phenotypic characterization. Antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) was done using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Muller- Hinton Agar. About 37 samples yielded growth of aerobic bacteria, amounting to 74% of the total sample collected. Gram-negative bacteria was about 37.8% and Gram-positive bacteria were about 62.2%. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli was 32.4%, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was 5.4%. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus was 48.65%, and Streptococcus agalactiae was 13.5%. The most effective antibiotics are Gentamycin (28 mm) and Levofloxacin (27 mm), while the less effective antibiotics are Augmentin (1 mm) and Ampiclox (1 mm). Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a molecular technique was used in identifying the genomic sequence (16s rRNA gene) of the most dominant and prevalent isolate, and the particular strain (Staphylococcus aureus strain CFSAN082783) was pinpointed, though it was the second most resistant isolate to the selected antibiotics. The results from the analysis were represented with bar graphs, tables, and plates. The study highlighted the prevalent and predominant nature of Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae and Klebsiella pneumoniae.