ANTIMICROBIAL PROFILE OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS FROM HOSPITAL-BASED WASTE WATER AND SURFACES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR TEACHING HOSPITAL AND GENERAL HOSPITAL CALABAR.

ABSTRACT Hospital environments are the reservoir of many clinically important microorganisms, including multidrug-resistant surface-borne pathogens. This is a public health concern, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, due to its poor infection management system. This study was planned to detect air-borne and surface-borne bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and General Hospital Calabar. Swabbing and open-plate sample collection were used for sample collection, while standard bacteriological techniques were used to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens. The Mueller- Hinton agar was used to detect the drug susceptibility pattern of bacteria by using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of the 30 samples collected, 25 showed growth of 54 bacterial species from 10 genera. From this number, 7 (70%) genera were gram-negative rods, (10%) genus were Gram-positive rods and two Gram-positive cocci. The most abundant isolate was Staphylococcus 12 (22.22%), Klebsiella 6 (11.11%), Bacillus and E. coli 5 (9.26%), Streptococcus, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella spp. 4 (7.41%), respectively, while Shigella and Pseudomonas (Pyoverdin) spp. 3 (5.56%) each. From the General hospital S. aureus (7.41%), Pseudomonas (Pyocyanin), Proteus, Bacillus and Streptococcus spp. 3 (5.56%), Shigella, Pseudomonas (Pyoverdin) and Klebsiella spp 2 (3.7%) each, Salmonella, Morganella spp and E. coli 1 (1.85%) each. The total occurrence from this location was 24 (44.44%). The total occurrence from the UCTH was 26 (48.15%), S. aureus 8 (24%), Klebsiella spp and E. coli 4 (7.41%) each, Salmonella spp and M. morganii 3 (5.56%) each, Bacillus and Shigella spp 2 (3.7%) each, Pseudomonas (Pyocyanin), Proteus, Streptococcus and Pseudomonas (Pyoverdin) spp 1 (1.85%) respectively. Proteus mirabilis P.m6 showed the highest inhibition zone diameters of 48mm CPX, and 40mm AM, Proteus mirabilis Pm 24, showed 43mm, against CPX, Pm36 showed 45mm and 40mm against CPX and AM. Staphylococcus aureus SA110 followed with 47mm to PEF and 40mm for S. aureus SA42, showed 40mm against PEF, Bacillus spp Bc9 was inhibited by OFX and PEF with IZDs of 45mm and 43mm respectively, Bacillus Bc12 showed 44mm with CPX, Bc25 40mm to OFX, while Bacillus Bc40, showed 40mm against PEF and OFX. Pseudomonas PA13 and Morganella Mm23 inhibition zone diameters of 41 each against AM and REF respectively while PA30 showed 43mm against AU. The lowest IZDs (12mm) were shown by Staphylococcus aureus SA19, against SXT, SA14 against S and Morganella Mm2, against CH. Streptococcus spp Spy35, showed IZDs of 45mm and 40mm against AM and AU. E. coli Ec43 and Ec50 40mm against PEF. The most effective antibiotics was Ciprofloxacin, which inhibited Morganella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Proteus, Shigella and Salmonella spp by 100%. Perfloxacin also inhibited Streptococcus and Salmonella spp at 100%. The most resisted antibiotic was septrin with 77.79%, followed by chloramphenicol with 70.37%, gentamycin 68.87%, Augmentin 66.67% and the least resisted drug was ciprofloxacin with 14.81% resistance, followed by Perfloxacin and ofloxacin with 38.89% each. A significant prevalence of surface-borne bacterial pathogens was detected. This study revealed that S. aureus, aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli were nosocomial infection concerns of the hospitals. All the bacterial species exhibited some level of multidrug resistance against the antibiotic tested. Good sanitary conditions must be maintained in hospital environments with proper drug prescription/ patient compliance observed.