Detection of multidrug resistant organisms of concern including S. maltophilia and B. cepacia at a referral hospital in Kenya

It is important to monitor of antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacteria in clinical settings periodically to ascertain the current trends as well as re-establish empirical therapy. This study aimed to determine bacterial contaminants and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from medical equipment, inanimate surfaces and clinical samples isolated from Thika Level V Hospital (TLVH). Three hundred and five samples were collected and comprised of urine, pus swabs, catheter swabs, stool and environmental samples. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done on VITEK 2 and disc diffusion respectively. Coagulase negative Staphylococci (28 /160, 17.5%) were the most isolated species from patients followed by E. coli (22 /160 13.8%) and S. aureus (22/160, 13.8%). The bed rail was the most contaminated surface with S. aureus at (6/42)14.2%. The clinical sample that yielded the highest number of pathogens was pus (92/160). Trauma patients had the largest proportion of isolates (67/160, 41.8%). Bacteria recovered from this study demonstrated high levels of resistance especially enteric bacteria. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase phenotype was noted in 29/44 (65.9%) enteric isolates. Although ESBL genetic confirmatory studies are needed, this study shows that there is an urgent need for actions that mitigate the spread of antibiotics resistant bacteria.