Abstract

300 urine samples with significant bacteriuria collected from 3 hospitals in Mubi were analysed for presence of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria. 187 urine samples comprising 68.9% female and 31.1% male yielded Enterobacteriaceae bacteria growth. The isolates include Escherichia coli 51.5%, Klebsiella pneumonia 24.4%, Klebsiellaoxytoca 3.1%, Enterobacter aerogenes 9.7% and Citrobacter freundii 10.9%. Antibiotic resistance profile obtained revealed high resistance of isolates to ampicillin 37.5%, ciprofloxacin 36.4% and co-amoxyclav 21.3%. Streptomycin, nalidixic acid, cephalexin and gentamicin highly inhibited growth of the organisms tested. Gentamicin resistance rate of 17% was obtained while curing of selected donor isolates showed that gentamicin resistance in 75.8% of the isolates were plasmid mediated or located on mobile genetic element. Transfer rates of 34.8% and 41.1% respectively were obtained for inter-generic and intra-species transfer of gentamicin resistance genes (Gm^r) among the Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Evidence of transferability of Gm^r invitro concurs to the assertion that under favorable conditions conjugal transfer of gentamicin resistance determinants and hence R plasmid could occur in vivo. 

Key words: Enterobacteriaceae, gene transfer, gentamicin resistance genes, plasmid, curing, conjugation.