Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 μg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks. Results: A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI values within the range of 0.3 to 1.0. Conclusion: This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area. Keywords: MRSA, beta-lactamase, antibiotics, multidrug resistance, clinical samples, community samples.

Antagonistic effect and bacteriocinogenic activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria isolated from Sorghum bicolor -based ‘ogi’ on food borne bacterial pathogens from cabbage

Background and Objectives: AmpC-producing Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) pathogens are distributed worldwide, espe- cially in clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the antibiogram and the type of AmpC-β-lactamase gene harboured by GNB pathogens implicated in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) cases. Materials and Methods: Ear swab samples (300) collected from patients with active CSOM were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Phenotypic and molecular detection of AmpC β-lactamase production was done by cefoxitin/ cloxacillin double-disk synergy test and PCR respectively. Antibiogram was determined by disk diffusion technique. Results: Among the GNB pathogens isolated from CSOM patients, P. aeruginosa was the most predominant (36.3%); fol- lowed by K. pneumoniae (22.3%), and E. coli (13.7%). Patients with active CSOM showed increased bacteria isolation rate from bilateral ear discharges than unilateral ear discharges. E. coli and P. aeruginosa were more prevalent among patients with duration of discharge >2 weeks; recording 9.0% and 20.3% respectively. AmpC β-lactamase producers accounted for 14.0%; they were highly resistant (60%-100%) to cephalosporins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline, but very susceptible (70.4%-100%) to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin. Multiple antibiotic resistance indices of isolates ranged from 0.7-0.8. FOX-AmpC-β-lactamase gene was detected in 3.9% of the isolates. Conclusion: The detection of AmpC β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant GNB pathogens harbouring FOX-AmpC- β-lactamase gene among patients with CSOM infections in our study is a serious public health problem which needs urgent intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, have strong clinical relevance and have been implicated in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) treatment failures. This study aimed to determine the frequency, antibiogram, and molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacterial (GNB) pathogens isolated from patients with CSOM. METHODS: three hundred (300) ear swab samples collected from patients with active CSOM were analyzed using standard microbiological techniques and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Phenotypic detection and molecular characterization of ESBL-producing GNB pathogens were performed by double disk synergy test (DDST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibiogram of pathogens was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique. RESULTS:Escherichia. coli and P. aeruginosa were more prevalent among CSOM patients with a duration of discharge >2 weeks. The frequency of ESBL producers among the GNB pathogens was 18.3%. Isolates were generally multidrug-resistant but very susceptible (100% - 70.4%) to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin. MARI values of the isolates ranged from 0.7-0.8. Polymerase chain reaction showed that blaSHV (47.6%) was the most predominant ESBL genotype. This was followed by blaTEM (25.2%) and blaCTX-M (10.7%) as the least predominant ESBL gene. Concomitant expression of ESBL gene was observed in 13.6% of the isolates. CONCLUSION: this study reported the occurrence and spread of β-lactamase-producing bacteria in patients with CSOM infections. It is therefore very crucial to screen for antibiotic-resistant pathogens at early stages of CSOM infections, for proper antimicrobial therapy and to curb the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance.

The objective of this study was to review the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic microorganisms associated with VVF patients in Abakaliki, South eastern Nigeria. Out of the 117 bacterial isolates obtained from 108 mid-stream urine samples of VVF patients, 72 isolates [15 (20.8%) Staphylococcus aureus, 8 (11.1%) Enterococcus faecalis, 12 (16.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 11 (15.3%) Proteus mirabilis, and 26 (36.1%) Escherichia coli] were obtained from pre-surgery VVF patients, while 45 isolates [7 (15.6%) Staphylococcus aureus, 3 (6.7%) Enterococcus faecalis, 4 (8.9%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 15 (33.3%) Proteus mirabilis, and 16 (35.6%) Escherichia coli] were obtained from post-surgery VVF patients. The bacterial isolates exhibited resistance (57.1 to 75%) to co-trimoxazole, tetracycline, amoxicillin, ceftazidime, and nitrofurantoin. Antibiogram also revealed that imipenem was the most active antibiotic against the bacterial isolates as 80 to 100% of the bacterial isolates were susceptible to this antibiotic. Our findings affirmed that VVF patients are prone to microbial colonization and these microbes showed varying degrees of susceptibility to different classes of antibiotics. Therefore, there is urgent need for constant monitoring and evaluation of antibiotics used in the treatment of uropathogenic infections in VVF patients to avoid full-blown antibiotic resistance menace which might eventually result in serious public health problem. Key words: Antimicrobial susceptibility, uropathogenic microorganisms, vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF).

Toothbrush has become a potential source of infection, owing to contamination by various pathogens as a result of poor oral hygiene awareness and practices. This study investigated the antibacterial activities of ethyl acetate and methanol leaf-extracts of Psidium guajava (guava) and Carica papaya (paw-paw) on bacteria pathogens isolated from toothbrushes. A total of 100 manual used toothbrushes of different brands were collected from patients attending Federal School of Dental Therapy, Enugu Dental Clinic and analyzed for bacterial growth. In vitro antibacterial study of Carica papaya and P. guajava leaf extracts was conducted using Kirby-Bauer agar well diffusion technique. Staphylococcus aureus 76 (69.1%), Escherichia coli 23 (20.9%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11(10%) were isolated from toothbrushes using standard microbiological techniques. Results showed that ethyl acetate extract of P. guajava had inhibition zone diameter (IZD) ranging from 9 to 29 mm against bacterial isolates, while its methanol extract had IZD of 8 to 26 mm. Ethyl acetate extract of C. papaya had IZD of 5 - 21 mm, while its methanol extract had IZD of 5 to 10 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts was 50 mg/ml, while minimum bactericidal concentration was 100 mg/ml for all the isolates. The bacterial contamination frequency of manual toothbrushes recorded in this study was high and this calls for urgent public health attention. Key words: Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, antibacterial activity, extracts, toothbrush. Toothbrush has become a potential source of infection, owing to contamination by various pathogens as a result of poor oral hygiene awareness and practices. This study investigated the antibacterial activities of ethyl acetate and methanol leaf-extracts of Psidium guajava (guava) and Carica papaya (paw-paw) on bacteria pathogens isolated from toothbrushes. A total of 100 manual used toothbrushes of different brands were collected from patients attending Federal School of Dental Therapy, Enugu Dental Clinic and analyzed for bacterial growth. In vitro antibacterial study of Carica papaya and P. guajava leaf extracts was conducted using Kirby-Bauer agar well diffusion technique. Staphylococcus aureus 76 (69.1%), Escherichia coli 23 (20.9%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 11(10%) were isolated from toothbrushes using standard microbiological techniques. Results showed that ethyl acetate extract of P. guajava had inhibition zone diameter (IZD) ranging from 9 to 29 mm against bacterial isolates, while its methanol extract had IZD of 8 to 26 mm. Ethyl acetate extract of C. papaya had IZD of 5 - 21 mm, while its methanol extract had IZD of 5 to 10 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts was 50 mg/ml, while minimum bactericidal concentration was 100 mg/ml for all the isolates. The bacterial contamination frequency of manual toothbrushes recorded in this study was high and this calls for urgent public health attention. Key words: Psidium guajava, Carica papaya, antibacterial activity, extracts, toothbrush.