Paul Oyegoke - Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Busayo Olayinka - Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Joseph Ehinmidu - Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Babajide Tytler - Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

  Background and aims: The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health threat complicating treatment and resulting in prolonged hospitalization. The prevalence of AMR threat is not well defined due to the dearth of appropriate surveillance systems. This study sought to assess the prevalence of AMR among bacterial isolates from sputum specimens obtained from patients with pneumonia presenting at two secondary healthcare facilities in Zaria from June ۱ to August ۳۱, ۲۰۱۸.   Methods: Standard methodology was followed in processing sputum samples that met the acceptance criteria. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens cultured from sputum specimens obtained from June ۱ to August ۳۱, ۲۰۱۸) were evaluated using the recommendation of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Finally, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.   Results: Acinetobacter spp. were the predominant pathogens accounting for ۳۲% of recovered isolates, followed by Staphylococcus spp. (۱۸%) and Klebsiella spp. (۱۷%), respectively. AMR was found in ۹۱% of the isolates. Most isolates were resistant to erythromycin (ERY) (۸۰%) and amoxicillin (۸۳.۳%). Eventually, the multiple antibiotic resistance index ≥۰.۳ was observed in ۷۶% of the isolates.   Conclusion: Based on the findings, AMR rates were observed to be high, and may display a serious therapeutic challenge to the management of community-acquired pneumonia. Concerted efforts are needed to combat the worrisome AMR trends revealed in this study.

Acinetobacter spp, Antibiotic resistance, Community-acquired pneumonia, Klebsiella spp