Characterization and determination of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria isolated from some fomites in a teaching hospital in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Fomites are inanimate objects that can serve as vehicles for pathogens transfer. This study was conducted to determine the antibiogram of bacteria isolated from fomites in a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Exactly 35 samples were used for the study. Twenty three (65.7%) isolates were obtained; the ratio of Gram positive to Gram negative organisms was 12 to 11. The bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (21.7%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.7%), Streptococcus spp. (8.7%), Bacillus spp. (13.0%), Escherichia coli (26.1%), Pseudomonas spp. (8.7%) and Klebsiella spp. (13.0%). The isolated bacteria showed varying susceptibility pattern to the antibiotics used and were all susceptible to erythromycin and streptomycin.   Key words: Bacteria, fomites, antibiotics, susceptibility, teaching hospital, Nigeria.