PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS ASSOCIATED WITH WOUND INFECTIONS FROM DIABETIC OUT-PATIENTS AT PLATEAU SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, JOS, NIGERIA

This study was carried out to determine the frequency and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial agents associated with diabetic patients attending out-patients Department in Plateau Specialist Hospital Jos. Wound swabs and pus were collected from the wounds of 251 out-patients’ department (OPD) over a 14 months’ period. Subjects were recruited upon approval by the Ethical Research Committee of the UCTH and after obtaining written or oral informed consent from the subject. Samples were cultured and microbial isolates identified using standard microbiology methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out on the bacterial isolates. Six bacterial isolates were identified from wounds of diabetic patients viz: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The most frequently encountered bacterial pathogen of wound infection among subjects was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.67%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (23.33%) while the lowest was Klebsiella pneumonia (6.67%). The antibiotic susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates to commonly used antibiotics ranged between 0.0% to 100%. The flouroquinolones were the most active antimicrobial agents observed among bacterial isolates from diabetic out-patients studied. S. aureus [7(100%) and 6(85.7%)] was the highest susceptible bacteria followed by P. aeruginosa [7(87.5%) and 5(62.5%)], E. coli 6(100%) against Ciprofloxacin (10%) and Augmentin (30%) respectively. Meanwhile, K. pneumonia and S. pneumonia were not susceptible each (0.0%) against Doxycycline and Chloramphenicol at 10% and 30% concentrations respectively. The study showed a high index of wound contamination with bacteria pathogens and resistance pattern to standard and commonly used antibacterial agents among diabetic out-patient from the study area. Pandukur, S. G. | Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos.