Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a known opportunistic pathogen frequently causing serious infections. It exhibits innate resistance to a wide range of antibiotics thus causing high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Objective: This study was done to determine the distribution and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in NHA.Method: Laboratory data on 265 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a total of 30,384 clinical specimens processed over a 3 year period (January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2012) were analyzed.Results: A total 30,384 samples were submitted for bacteriologic analysis, 265 (1%) yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa of which 195 (74%) were from in-patient sand 70 (26%) fromout-patients.185 (70%) isolates were from adults while 80 (30%) were from children. 87% of the isolates were susceptible to imipenem, 77% to amikacin, while 34% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 46% resistant to ceftazidime.Conclusion: The relatively high proportion of resistance to ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime, and the emerging resistance to amikacin and imipenem are worrisome and calls for rational antibiotic use and institution of effective resistance surveillance and infection control measures. Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, National Hospital Abuja, Susceptibility