Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Aeromonas hydrophila Isolates among Diarrhoeic Patients From University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

The present study is the first to be conducted in order to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Aeromonas hydrophila strains from diarrheic patients attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. A total of 153 stool samples were collected from out patients attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). The diarrhoeic patients were screened for the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila using routine cultural methods and biochemical characterization. Our results did show that the overall isolation rate is (3. 92%). The prevalence per age group is presented showed that age group 26-30 years having the highest rate of (1.31%) of the total sample analysed. Age groups 11-15 and 16-20 years having the same prevalence rate of (0.65%) each, while the age groups d”5, 6-10 and >30 had no prevalence for Aeromonas hydrophila. The distribution of A. hydrophila infection among different sexes has shown that (2.22%) out of the six A.hydrophila were isolated from diarrheic stools collected from males, while (6.35%) were isolated from females. Statistical analysis showed that X2 yates corrected)= 0.05 P= 0.596, OR=1.10 (0.50<OR<2.80).This indicated the level of association between age and rate of Aeromonas infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of A. hydrophila showed that the isolates were extremely (100%) resistant to Ampicillin, Cephalothin, Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Sulphatriazone, Tetracyclin and Cotrimoxazole. All the isolates are highly susceptible to Colistin and Ceftazidime (100%) followed by Augmentin (83%). They are moderately susceptible to Cefutoxime 50%). Earlier studies revealed resistance to Tetracycline and Cotrimoxazole. Our study confirmed that Aeromonas hydrophila as an important enteropathogen responsible for diarrhoea in humans in Gwagwalada. Diagnostic regime should involve screening of this organism alongside other microorganisms responsible for diarrhoeic symptoms in man and animals. This is the first report to involve Aeromonas hydrophila in human diarrhoea and sought regime for choice of antibiotics for the management of the infection.