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ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF BACTERIAL ORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM RATS
Abstract
Objective: To determine if antimicrobial resistance occurs in v:~rious bacterial species
isolated from rats.
Method: Two hundred and fifteen rats were trapped from areas in and around Nairobi,
Kenya. They were sacrificed and their intestinal, liver and sple:n specimens obtained.
Various bacterial species were isolated from these specimens. The s ~ecies were analysed for
antimicrobial susceptibility to 12 commonly used antimicrobials using the disc diffusion
technique.
Results: The bacterial species isolated included pathogenic and pot~:ntially pathogenic ones
such as Escherichia coli 137,Salrnonellatyphirnuriurn 1, Klebsiellapnt urnoniae 2, Enterobacter
cloacae 4, Enterobacter sakazakii 2, Citrobacter freundii 3, Mt,rganella rnorganii (2),
Pseudornonas aeruginosa 2 and Burkhoddria cepacia 6. Depend ng on the species, the
resistance to the various antimicrobials were: 0-100% for cef~~taxime, nalidixic acid,
cefuroxime, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, co-amoxyclav, sulfan~ethoxazole, ampicillin,
trimethoprim and cephradine, 0-66.6% for gentamicin and 0-25% for apramycin.
Conclusion: 'The results showed that, rats from the study area harlloured bacterial species
with antimicrobial resistance. These micro-organisms may form an important reservoir for
antibiotic resistance which could pose a public health hazard. Cor trol of rat populations,
better management of sewer systems and waste dumping sites are rt commended in order to
reduce occurrence of these drug resistance reservoirs.
isolated from rats.
Method: Two hundred and fifteen rats were trapped from areas in and around Nairobi,
Kenya. They were sacrificed and their intestinal, liver and sple:n specimens obtained.
Various bacterial species were isolated from these specimens. The s ~ecies were analysed for
antimicrobial susceptibility to 12 commonly used antimicrobials using the disc diffusion
technique.
Results: The bacterial species isolated included pathogenic and pot~:ntially pathogenic ones
such as Escherichia coli 137,Salrnonellatyphirnuriurn 1, Klebsiellapnt urnoniae 2, Enterobacter
cloacae 4, Enterobacter sakazakii 2, Citrobacter freundii 3, Mt,rganella rnorganii (2),
Pseudornonas aeruginosa 2 and Burkhoddria cepacia 6. Depend ng on the species, the
resistance to the various antimicrobials were: 0-100% for cef~~taxime, nalidixic acid,
cefuroxime, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, co-amoxyclav, sulfan~ethoxazole, ampicillin,
trimethoprim and cephradine, 0-66.6% for gentamicin and 0-25% for apramycin.
Conclusion: 'The results showed that, rats from the study area harlloured bacterial species
with antimicrobial resistance. These micro-organisms may form an important reservoir for
antibiotic resistance which could pose a public health hazard. Cor trol of rat populations,
better management of sewer systems and waste dumping sites are rt commended in order to
reduce occurrence of these drug resistance reservoirs.
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