Microbiological Analysis and Antibiogram of Blood Pressure Cuffs in Some Primary Health Centres in Ikot Ekpene Metropolis, South- South Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract : Microbiological analysis and antibiogram of blood pressure cuffs used in some Primary Health Centres in Ikot Ekpene metropolis  was carried out using standard microbiological methods. The results of the colony count revealed  that sample D had the highest colony count of  (80 colonies), followed by B (76 colonies), E had (68), C (56 colonies), G (17 colonies), A (6 colonies) while F had the least count of (1 colony) respectively. The study revealed the presence of five bacterial isolates to include Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, Alcaligene sp, Escherichia coli and Flavobacteria sp. .Percentage frequency of  occurrence of bacterial isolates shows that Escherichia coli recorded the highest  percentage frequency  of occurrence of (29.2%), Bacillus sp had (25%), Pseudomonas sp had (17.9%), Flavobacterium sp had (16.7%). Fungal count revealed the  highest count from sample D (78 colonies), followed by E (14 colonies), B had (13 colonies), F and G (10 colonies) respectively, C had (5 colonies) while A had the least count of (3 colony) respectively. Four fungal isolates include Candida sp, Cladosporium sp, Aspergillus sp and Chaetomium sp respectively were obtained from the analysis. Percentage of occurrence of fungal shows that Alcaligene  sp recorded the least frequency and percentage occurrence of (8.3%), for fungal Aspergillus sp recorded the highest frequency and percentage of occurrence (31.8%), Candida sp had(27.3%), Cladosporium sp had (22.7%), while Chaetomium sp recorded the least frequency and percentage occurrence of (18.2 %) respectively. The results of antibacterial susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates indicated that Bacillus sp was sensitive to tested antibiotics including Erythromycin, Chloramphenicol, Gentamycin and Levofloxacin while it was resistant to other antibiotics. Pseudomonas sp was sensitive to Tarivid and resistance to other antibiotics.  Alcaligene sp was sensitive to tested antibiotics including Gentamycin, Septrin. Escherichia coli was sensitive to Ciproflox, Gentamycin, Tarivid and Septrin and resistance to other antibiotics. This study revealed that most of the blood pressure cuffs  used in  primary health care facilities  were contaminated with pathogenic organisms that are implicated in healthcare-associated infections.