Antibiotic Susceptibility of High Vaginal Swab’s Isolates Obtained from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis is caused by the invasion of the vagina by pathogenic microbiota with a unique adaptive strategy. Immunodeficiency and immune compromised female patients may have reported cases of this category of infections.

Aims: This study evaluated the susceptibility pattern of High vaginal swab (HVS) isolates using both Optudisc and Abtek antibiotics susceptibility disc obtained from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Unit, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH); Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.

Study Design: Thirty (30) isolates with multidrug resistance were screened, selected and identified with frequencies of occurrence with 36.67% E. coli, 29.9% Klebsiella sp., 16.67% Staphylococcus aureus, 6.6% Pseudomonas sp. and 13.33% Proteus sp. The susceptibility of the isolates was assessed using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method.

Results: Over 80% were susceptible to Gentamicin, 64% to Ofloxacin, using the Abtex Biological Limited while Optudisc revealed 72% to Peflacin, Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin, 60% resistant to Ampicillin, 56% to Nalidixic Acid, Septrin. About 100% sensitivity was observed in the second generation Cephalosporins, Cefuroxime and Ceftazidime, whereas 75% were resistant to Oxacillin and Augmentin. While Optudisc for Gram-positive isolates were 100% susceptible to Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin. Statistical analysis using t-test at p< 0.05 showed that mean results using the different disc were significant.

Conclusion: The trend in the susceptibility of isolates was attributed to the spate of self-medication and abuse and misuse of herbal remedies. These findings underscore the need to enforce proper susceptibility testing prior to administration of therapeutic formulations.