Antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolates from ward environment of a hospital in Tema, Ghana

Community and hospital-acquired antimicrobial resistance is on the increase worldwide and threatens the ability to treat patients effectively. This can result in high levels of morbidity and mortality from microbial infections. Susceptibility patterns help track microbial resistance potentials in order to enhance antibiotic prescription and use. The susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi from the wards of a major hospital in the Tema Metropolis of the Greater Accra region of Ghana were studied. Fifty-seven S. aureus and 12 S. typhi isolates were confirmed from 150 samples collected from the various parts of the hospital wards. The isolates were evaluated for their susceptibility/resistance against five antibiotics namely: Cefuroxime, gentamicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results revealed that hospital door handles had the highest number of microbes as compared to other sites. Of the S. typhi isolates, 66.67% were resistant to cefuroxime but completely susceptible to gentamicin. Also, 75.44% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to cefuroxime but highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and tetracycline. The results indicate that S. aureus and S. typhi are gradually developing resistance to cefuroxime which is currently a major antibiotic in the health delivery system of Ghana.