Abstract

Objective: To ascertain antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) from clinical urine specimens at a university hospital in the spate of its recorded increasing resistance patterns.Methods: The study was retrospective in nature. Data generated from urine cultures of patients at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for a period of five years (2004-2009) were compiled. Relevant information obtained were age and gender of patients, organisms recovered and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns. P. mirabilis was identified using standard laboratory procedures. Results: P. mirabilis showed the highest resistance against ampicillin, cloxacillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin and chloramphenicol (1 00%-37.2%) while colistin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin recorded the highest activity (59.1%-96.9%) with no drug recording 100% activity. The resistance of the nosocomial isolates of the organism were significantly higher than the community acquired isolates against that of the common antibiotics in use (P<0.05). Conclusions: Extreme caution should be exercised in antibiotic administration in hospital setting and the potential benefits adequately assessed while control of nosocomial infections be given a priority so as to limit the spread of resistant bacteria.

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