ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY SCREENING OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM URINARY TRACT INFECTION PATIENTS IN NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL,OKOLOBIRI,BAYELSA STATE.
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain a significant public health concern globally, with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus species being the primary causative agents. This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance profiles of E. coli and Staphylococcus species isolated from UTI patients attending the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Standard microbiological procedures were used for the identification of bacterial isolates, while antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. The results revealed considerable antibiotic resistance among the Isolates. Escherichia coli exhibited marked resistance to cefotaxin (zone of inhibition: 4 mm) and augmentin (7 mm), indicating potential production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). In contrast, Staphylococcus aureus showed good susceptibility to azithromycin (27 mm) and erythromycin (20 mm), but was resistant to amoxicillin, likely due to beta-lactamase enzyme production. Staphylococcus saprophyticus demonstrated broad resistance, with very small zones of inhibition observed for amoxicillin (3 mm), sparfloxacin (4 mm), and augmentin (3 mm). Fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin retained moderate activity against E. coli (17–18 mm) and S. saprophyticus (9–11 mm), although emerging resistance to these agents was also noted. These findings highlight the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in the region, particularly to beta-lactams and other first-line antibiotics.
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