Antibiotics Pattern of Salmonella and Shigella spp. Isolated from Stool Samples among Students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence as well as antibiotics susceptibility profile of Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp isolated from stool samples of asymptomatic students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Stool samples were collected with sterile universal containers from consenting students across the male and female hostel at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus. The samples were immediately transferred to the Department of Microbiology, Bacteriology laboratory and the analysis was carried out from January to April, 2025. Materials and Methods: A total of 140 stool samples were collected from consented students aged 19 to 27 years (females 57.1%, males 42.9%) after obtaining permission from the Hostels Authority and inoculated onto Salmonella-Shigella agar. Biochemical tests including Simmons Citrate Agar test, Citrate and Urease tests were used to identify the isolates. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used for the Antibiotic susceptibility testing on Mueller-Hinton Agar. Results: A total of 32 (22.9%) Salmonella spp and 8 (5.7%) Shigella spp were isolated from 40 sample out of 140. Students aged 21-23 had the highest prevalence of both Salmonella and Shigella infections, 20 (33.3%) and 8 (13.3%) respectively. The female students had higher prevalence of 13.9% for Salmonella and 13.3%% for Shigella infections, while the male students had 9.3% (Salmonella) and 0.0% (Shigella). Both isolates showed significant variations in their antibiotic resistance patterns, with majority showing high sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin, Pefloxacin and Ofloxacin but 100% resistant to Septrin, Streptomycin and Amoxicillin. Conclusion: The overall 22.9% and 5.7% prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella respectively, among asymptomatic students implies that students can be carriers of some deadly pathogens which can subsequently be transmitted to susceptible students/others within the university environment.