Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Salmonella spp. from Patients’ Blood Specimen in Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia

Abstract

Background: Salmonella species are important public health pathogens associated with bloodstream infections, particularly in settings where sanitation and healthcare access may be limited. Aims: This study evaluated the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Salmonella spp. isolated from patients’ blood specimens at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Methodology: A total of 470 whole-blood samples were collected from 470 patients and cultured. Suspected organisms were recovered from 88 samples (18.7%). Seventy-four suspected samples were sub-cultured onto selective media, including Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar and MacConkey agar. Positive bacterial growth was obtained from 22 samples (29.7%), while 66 samples (75.0%) were negative after sub-culture. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and the results were interpreted in relation to the tested isolates and reported inhibition-zone patterns within the hospital. Results: Higher susceptibility was observed with cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. Azithromycin and nalidixic acid showed lower susceptibility, while ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate and chloramphenicol showed moderate activity. Gentamicin and tetracycline showed resistance among the isolates tested. None of the isolates was reported as multidrug resistant. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for continued blood culture surveillance and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to support the management of patients with Salmonella infections in the study setting.