SUSCEPTIBILITY TESTING OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF MADONNA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ELELE, RIVERS STATE

ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal tract infection is caused by enteropathogens and represents an important scientific and health burdens worldwide. The study was aimed at determining the susceptibility testing of bacteria isolates from gastrointestinal tract of the students attending Madonna University Elele campus. A total of 60 fecal samples were obtained from the students attending Madonna University Elele campus and analyzed bacteriologically, from the total samples obtained 29 (48%) yielded significant bacterial growth while 31(52%) yielded no bacteria growth after 24 hours of incubation. The organisms isolated include, Staphylococcus aureus 17(59%), Escherichia coli 7(24%) Klebsiella spp. 3(10%) and lastly Proteus spp. 2(7%). The distribution of isolates from the fecal sample of the participants showed that students within the age group of 18-24 years had the highest prevalence rate of 11(38%), the distribution of the bacterial isolate based on hall of residence showed that the females had a higher percentage occurrence of gastrointestinal bacteria 17(59%) than the males 12(41%). The distribution of the bacterial isolates based on the departments showed that students from nursing departments had a highest prevalence rate of 7(24%) while students from optometry department had the least prevalence rate of 2(7%). The susceptibility testing of the bacterial isolates was determined and showed that Escherichia coli had the highest resistance to the antibiotics, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and lastly Klebsiella and proteus spp. with the least resistance, there was a statistical level of difference among the sensitivity and resistance groups. Treatment involves getting enough fluids by drinking oral rehydration solution (ORS) (a combination of water, salts and sugar). The use of antibiotics is also recommended especially in young children with fever and bloody diarrhea.