Antibiotic susceptibility profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from pregnant and non-pregnant women attending Abraka General Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from high vaginal swabs (HVS) of 50 women (30 pregnant, 20 non-pregnant) attending Abraka General Hospital, Nigeria. Samples were collected aseptically and cultured on nutrient, MacConkey, and mannitol salt agar for bacterial isolation. Biochemical tests identified isolates, and antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method against ten antibiotics, with multiple antibiotic resistance indices (MARI) calculated. Of the 50 samples, 10 (20%) yielded Enterobacteriaceae, with equal positivity rates in pregnant (6/30) and non-pregnant (4/20) groups. Klebsiella spp. and Proteus spp. each comprised 40% of isolates, followed by Escherichia coli (20%). In pregnant women, Proteus spp. (50%) dominated, followed by E. coli (33.3%) and Klebsiella spp. (16.7%), while non-pregnant women showed Klebsiella spp. (75%) and Proteus spp. (25%) predominance, with no E. coli. Isolates from pregnant women exhibited 100% resistance to tetracycline, ceftriaxone, and augmentin, with one E. coli isolate pan-resistant (MARI=1.0). Isolates from pregnant women showed 50% susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and streptomycin, whereas all isolates from non-pregnant women were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. Non-pregnant isolates displayed 100% resistance to cephalothin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, augmentin, and ceftazidime, but all were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. MARI ranged from 0.4– 1.0, indicating significant multidrug resistance (MDR). The study highlights distinct microbial profiles by pregnancy status and underscores the urgent need for targeted antibiotic stewardship to address MDR in Nigeria's maternal healthcare.