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.
