Investigation of multidrug resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> on medical equipment and surfaces from selected hospitals in Minna, Nigeria

Abstract

Nosocomial infections are often caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria contaminating hospital environments which can cause outbreaks as well as sporadic transmission. This study was carried out to investigate the presence of multidrug resistant Escherichia coli on medical equipment and surfaces in selected hospitals in Minna, Nigeria. A total of 130 samples were collected by swabbing medical equipment (28) and surfaces (102), the samples were screened for Escherichia coli isolates by culturing on MacConkey agar and Eosin methylene blue agar (EMB). A total 22 (17.9%) Escherichia coli were isolated, with the highest level of contamination observed in beds (31.8%) and chair surfaces (13.6%). Antibiotic susceptibility results revealed that 19(86.4%) of the E. coli isolates were multidrug-resistant showing high level of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 19(86.4%), ampicillin 18(81.8%), cefixime 17(77.3%), nalidixic acid 17(77.3%), ciprofloxacin 15(68.2%) and cefpodoxime 14(63.6%). Escherichia coli isolated exhibited high level of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics in the treatment of E. coli infections. This is quiet alarming, as such existing prevention strategies and infection control programs should be intensified in the control of nosocomial infections.