Background: Pseudomonas species are responsible for different healthcare-associated infections and are inherently resistant to many commonly used antibiotics. Hospital antibiograms are either absent or not regularly available in most healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The objective of this study is to present the antibiogram of Pseudomonas isolates in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG) in order to guide antibiotic prescription for better patient safety in the hospital.Methodology: The is a hospital-based cross-sectional study. A total of 4309 bacterial isolates were recovered from aerobic cultures of routine clinical specimens including urine, sputum, blood, swabs, aspirates, biopsies, seminal fluids and cerebrospinal fluids at the Medical Microbiology laboratory of the hospital between January and December 2019. Pseudomonas species were identified by colony morphology, Gram-reaction and conventional biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on each Pseudomonas isolate using the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar and results interpreted according to the guideline of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSSTM) software version 23.0.Results: Of the total 4309 bacterial isolates, 436 (10.1%) Pseudomonas species were identified, with majority (49.8%) from urine specimens. Antibiotic susceptibility test results revealed average susceptibility rates of 73.8%, 70.1%, 66.2%, 59.5%, and 34.3% to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, levofloxacin ceftazidime, and carbenicillin respectively. These rates fluctuate only slightly for each of the antibiotic during the 12 months period of survey.Conclusion: Pseudomonas species were most sensitive to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin among the first line antibiotics in FTHG in 2019. Regular updates and presentation of hospital antibiogram especially for intrinsically resistant bacteria such as Pseudomonas involved in healthcare associated infections, is an important tool in combating antimicrobial resistance and ensuring patient safety. Keywords: antibiogram, Pseudomonas, antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship, patient safety

Background: Empirical use of antibiotics is a standard practice in the treatment of infections worldwide. However, its over utilization without subsequent culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing could be a major driver of resistance.Over reliance on empirical antibiotherapy is common in most developing countries where antibiotic policies and availability or utilization of clinical microbiology laboratory are suboptimal. A standardized approach to point prevalence survey (PPS) on antimicrobial use (AMU) in hospitals was employed to assess the antimicrobial prescribing practices in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), Nigeria.Methodology: A PPS was conducted in April 2019 at FTHG by recruiting all in-patients present in the hospital on the day of survey. Data obtained from patients’ records included details of the type and indication for antibiotherapy. A customized online application developed by the University of Antwerp (www.global-pps.be) was used for data-entry, validation, analysis and reporting.Results: Of the total 326 patients who were on admission on the day of survey, 70.6% and 73.4% were on at least one antibiotic in adult and paediatric wards respectively. Most commonly used antibiotics include beta lactams such as cephalosporins (29.2%) and penicillins (22.8%), fluoroquinolones (12.4%), aminoglycosides (9.1%) and macrolides (3.4%). Among patients on antibiotics, route of  administration was mainly parenteral (71.6%) while 44.8% were on more than one antibiotic. Overall, 91.3% of the antibiotic treatments were empirical with adults, children and neonates accounting for 96.4%, 77.6% and 100.0% respectively. Empirical antibiotic use is also high in medical wards (86.3%), surgical wards (89.9%) and intensive care unit (100.0%).Conclusion: There is predominance and over-reliance on empirical antibiotherapy in our hospital. It further exposes the poor utilization of clinical microbiology laboratory and the potential for development of antibiotic resistance with resultant increase in morbidity/mortality and poor patient safety. There is need for further studies to highlight the dangers of over-reliance on empirical antibiotherapy and herald improvement in development and implementation of antibiotic stewardship programme. Keywords: Empirical antibiotherapy, antimicrobial resistance, point prevalence survey, antimicrobial stewardship   French title:L'antibiothérapie empirique comme moteur potentiel de la résistance aux antibiotiques: observations d'une enquêteponctuelle de prévalence de la consommation et de la résistance aux antibiotiques à Gombe, au Nigéria   Contexte: L'utilisation empirique d'antibiotiques est une pratique courante dans le traitement des infections dans le monde entier. Cependant, sa surutilisation sans culture ultérieure ni test de sensibilité aux antibiotiques pourrait être un facteur majeur de résistance. Le recours excessif à l'antibiothérapie empirique est courant dans la plupart des pays en développement où les politiques d'antibiotiques et la disponibilité ou l'utilisation du laboratoire de microbiologie clinique sont sous-optimales. Une approche standardisée de l'enquête de prévalence ponctuelle (PPS) sur l'utilisation des antimicrobiens (AMU) dans les hôpitaux a été utilisée pour évaluer les pratiques de prescription d'antimicrobiens au Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG), au Nigéria.Méthodologie: Un PPS a été réalisé en avril 2019 au FTHG en recrutant tous les patients hospitalisés présents à l'hôpital le jour de l'enquête. Les données obtenues à partir des dossiers des patients comprenaient des détails sur le type et l’indication de  l’antibiothérapie. Une application en ligne personnalisée développée par l'Université d'Anvers (www.global-pps.be) a été utilisée pour la saisie, la validation, l'analyse et le reporting des données.Résultats: Sur les 326 patients au total qui étaient admis le jour de l'enquête, 70,6% et 73,4% prenaient au moins un antibiotique dans les services pour adultes et pédiatriques respectivement. Les antibiotiques les plus couramment utilisés comprennent les bêta-lactamines telles que les céphalosporines (29,2%) et les pénicillines (22,8%), les fluoroquinolones (12,4%), les aminosides (9,1%) et les macrolides (3,4%). Parmi les patients’ sous antibiotiques, la voie d'administration était principalement parentérale (71,6%) tandis que 44,8% prenaient plus d'un antibiotique. Dans l'ensemble, 91,3% des traitements antibiotiques étaient empiriques, les adultes, les enfants et les nouveau-nés représentant respectivement 96,4%, 77,6% et 100,0%. L'utilisation empirique d'antibiotiques est également élevée dans les services médicaux (86,3%), les services chirurgicaux (89,9%) et les unités de soins intensifs (100,0%).Conclusion: Il y a une prédominance et une dépendance excessive à l'antibiothérapie empirique dans notre hôpital. Il expose en outre la mauvaie utilisation du laboratoire de microbiologie clinique et le potentiel de développement d'une résistance aux antibiotiques avec une augmentation résultante de la morbidité/mortalité et une mauvaise sécurité des patients. Des études supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour mettre en évidence les dangers d'une dépendance excessive à l'antibiothérapie empirique et annoncer une amélioration dans le développement et la mise en œuvre d'un programme de gestion des antibiotiques. Mots clés: antibiothérapie empirique, résistance aux antimicrobiens, enquête ponctuelle de prévalence, gestion des antimicrobiens  

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to patient safety. Methicillin and inducible clindamycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus are important multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs). Timely reporting of MDROs is necessary for rational antibiotic prescription and in combating AMR. We present the prevalence and distribution of Methicillin and inducible clindamycin resistant (iCR) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Gombe Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 260 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG). Isolates identification was done using conventional biochemical methods. Methicillin resistance was detected by cefoxitin disc diffusion method while iCR isolates by erythromycin and clindamycin disc approximation test (D-test). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in 178 (68.5%) isolates while 214 (82.3%) were iCR (D-test positive). Among the MRSA, 87.1% were also iCR while 72.4% of the iCR isolates were MRSA. There was significant association between MRSA and iCR (p = 0.03), MRSA and clindamycin resistance (p = 0.05) and MRSA and erythromycin resistance (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Prevalence of MDR Staphylococcus aureus is high in Gombe Nigeria. Antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) and good Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) are necessary in combating AMR and improving patient safety.